page_325

< previous page | page_325 | next page >

Page 325

| There was a sudden whumping sound and then the paddles of the boat suddenly ground to a halt. Ashton jumped with alarm. He leaned out over the rail and peered ahead, then grew cold inside when he saw the reason the boat had stopped. He automatically reached for one of his revolvers and slung it out of its holster, warily eyeing the pile of lumber that was blocking the progress of the paddlewheeler. |

| "What's going on?" a man spoke from behind him, followed by other curious men who had felt the delay of the boat and had emerged from their cabins. |

| Ashton turned to them and was glad to see that they had all very intelligently slipped their gunbelts on, because he knew that at any moment they would probably have to use them. The boat was targeted for an attack! |

| Charles Kelton, the captain of the ship, rushed to the rail armed with a hefty shotgun, the helmsman and other crew members following his lead with long-barreled pistols and rifles. |

| "I think we'd best scatter along the rail on both sides of the boat and prepare ourselves for an attack," Ashton shouted, scrutinizing the heavy vegetation along the banks that was capable of hiding many horsemen. "And quick!" |

| The men scattered and none too soon, for out of the thicket on the right side of the boat came a thundering of horsemen shooting their firearms at the paddlewheeler. The men who had gone to the opposite rail came scurrying back, and in a moment there was a barrage of gunfire, discouraging the riders from moving any closer. |

< previous page | page_325 | next page >