Anna Hansdatter: Hunger In the Dale

Chapter 15

Nels arose very early. All was quiet as he harnessed the team and departed. By afternoon, he passed Tangen, where the road became straight and level for a good long stretch, passing through meadowland with spectacular views of the mountains and the river.

“Hey, girls, hey! Hey!” Nels chanted, “pick it up, now, Hey!” The horses moved smoothly into a faster walk. “Good girls! We are making some time now. Hey!” A few minutes later, he reached behind him for the water skin, and was startled by the sight of two men on horseback, following far behind. A chill ran through him. He turned around and formed a plan.

If the two were honest men, they would overtake him soon. If they were bandits, they would hold back until the road entered the forest. Nels slowed the team slightly, “Ho, girls, ho!” He drew the reigns back gently. After a minute, he looked back again. The men were not gaining ground. Bandits, to be sure.

There was no hope of outrunning them, but Nels decided to fake a run for it. If they fell for the ruse, they would have to board the wagon at a run, in open country. He felt for the pistol, freshly loaded and secure beneath him. He cocked the hammer. There was a sheathed knife on his belt. But the weapon of first defense was his walking stick. Holding it low, so as not to be seen, he turned it around, holding it at the foot, with the heavy handle at the far end. Still keeping it low, he hefted the stick and tested its weight. Then he secured it within easy reach.

“All right, hit it, girls, Hey! Hey! Hey!” Nels flicked the reins, and the team instantly returned to the fast walk. “Good girls, good girls!” he said exuberantly, “Now again, Hey! Hey! Hey!” slapping with the reins. The team hesitated. They had never before trotted with such a load. But with one more shout from Nels, they took up a crisp trot. “That is it, girls, good girls. Now Hey! Hey! Run for it, run now, Hey! Hey!” He whistled and slapped the reins harder. The horses snorted and broke a gallop.

The thieves took the bait. They whipped their horses into a dead run, and were upon the wagon in a few moments. One on each side, they struggled to climb from their galloping horses onto the fast-moving wagon at the driver’s platform. Nels picked up the walking stick in his left hand. With another whistle and shout to the horses, he struck a glancing blow to the man on his left, knocking him back into his saddle. In almost continuous motion, he swung the stick hard back to the right, striking the second bandit squarely in the chest. He cried out, grabbing the walking stick. Nels gave it a shove and let go. The man fell hard to the ground.

But the first assailant had recovered and made it into the speeding wagon. Holding the seat with one hand to steady himself, he lunged at Nels with an enormous knife. Nels grabbed the wagon brake, hauling back on both the brake and the reins with a loud shout of “Whoa!” His team responded instantly. The wagon lurched, throwing the attacker off his balance. The knife sliced through Nels’ coat sleeve; he vaguely felt it cut into his arm, but it was not a deep wound. Momentum threw the man backwards onto the floorboard. Nels snatched the pistol from under his seat, shoved the muzzle against the bandit’s chest, and pulled the trigger.

(Continued)