The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-10-02


Now. JIM" said George look that your
pistols are all right and watch that pass with
me The first man that shows himself | fire
at. YOU take the second, and so on. 1t won't
do YOU know, TO waste two shots ON one
But what if YOU don't hit
81 shall hit" said George, cOolly
Good now. there's stuff in that fellow
muttered PhineaS, between his teeth
The party below. after Marks had fired stood
for a moment rather undecided.
IL think you must have hit some on EN-,
said one of the men. &" | heard a squeal!'-
"Tm going right up for one, said Tom. 81
never was afraid of niggers, and amt going
to begin now Who goes after - he said, spring |
ing up the rocks.
George heard the words distinctly. He drew |
mp his pistol, examined it. pointed it towards
that point in the defle where the first man
would appear.
One Of the most courageous of the party fol-
lowed Tom and the way being thus made the
whole party began pushing up the rock-the
hndermost pushing the front ones faster than
they would have gone Of themselves On they
came. and in a moment the burly form OF Tom
appeared in sight almost at the verge OF the
chasm.
George fred-the shot entered his side-but
though wounded he would not retreat but with
veil like that Of mad bull, he was leaping
right across the chasm into the party.
Friend said Phineas suddenly stepping to
the front and meeting him with a push from
his long arms. thee isn't wanted here
Down he fell into the cbasm, cracking down
among trees bushes. logs loose stones tlil ne
lay bruised and groaning thirty feet below. The
fall might have killed him. had 1t not been
broken and moderated by his clothes catching
in the branches of large tree but he came
down with some force howeyer-mOre than was
at all agreeable or CONVENIENT.
Lord help Us, they are perfect devils! ~ SAID
Marks heading the retreat down the rocks with |
much more of a will than he had joined the
.aseest while all the party came tumbhng pre-
ciptately after him--the fat constable in par
ticuar blowing and putting in very energetic
II saw fellers said Marks you Just 60
round and pick up Tom there, while run and
get ON to my horse to 90 back for help-thats
YOU and without minding the hootings and
eers Of his company, Marks was as good as
his word and was soon seen galOping away.
Was ever such a sneaking yarmint !" said
one of the men: to come ON his business, and
he clear out and leave rs this yer way
We'll. we must pick up that Teller" said
another CuSs me if much care whether he
is dead or alive
The men, led by the groans of Tom, scram-
bled and cracked through stumps logs and
bushes, to where that hero lay groaning and
swearing with alternate vehemence.
"Ye keep it agoing pretty loud Tom said
one !" We much hurt -
Don't know Get me up, can't ye! Blast
that Internal Quaker if it hadn't been for him,
I'd a pitched some on 'em down here, to see
how they liked il"
With much labor and groanng the fallen
hero was assisted to rise, and, with one holding
him up under each shoulder they got him as
far as the horses
IF you could only get me mile back to that |
ar tavern, Give me Il handkerchief or some
thing to stuff into this place and stop this in
formal bleeding
George looked over the rocks, and saw them
trying TO lift the burly form of Tom into the
saddle. After two or three Intellectual attempts,
he reeed, and fell heavily to the ground
ooh, hope he isn't killed, +" said Eliza who,
with all the party stood watching the pro-
ceeding
why mott" said Phineas; serves him
right"
Because, after death comes the Judgment"
said Eliza -.-,,...r ,,,,.ass---s-u.--.---g.ys
IA Var 81, iSounjer its an awful case for
the poor critturs SOUL
"On my word, they're leaving him, do be-
heye,' said Phineas
1t was true: FOR after some appearance of ir-
resolution and consultation, the whole party got |
ON their horses and rode away When they |
were quite out of sight Phineas began to bestir
himself
"Well, we must go down and walk piece"
he said. 81 told Michael to go forward and |
bring help, and be along hack here with the
wagon but we shall have TO walk piece along
the road | reckon, TO meet them The Lord
grant he be along soon; it's early in the day
there won't be much travel afoOt vet awhile:
we amt much more than two miles from our
stopping place; if the road hadn't been so rough |
last night we could have Outrun 'em entirely.1 |
As the party ncared the fence, they discovered
IN the distance along the road their own wagon
coming back, accompanied by some men on
horseback
"Well, now, there's Michael and Stephen |
and Amariah" exclaimed PhneaS joyfully. |
"Now we are made--as safe as if we'd rot
there
We'll do stop, them said Eliza aand do
dreadfully"
1T would be no more than Christian" said
George "let's take him up and carry him ON ~
And doctor him up among the Ouakerslr
SAID Phineasi pretty well that! Well, don't
care II we do. Here, let's have look mt him ~
and Phmeas who, in the course of his hunting
ana backwoods life had acquired some rude
experience OF surgery kneeled down by the
wounded man, and began careful cxamna-
ton of his condition.
Marks said Tom, fccbly, is that you.
"No; reckon faint friend' said Phineas.
Much Marks cares for thee, if his own skins
safe. He's Off long ago.
believe I'm done for said Tom. "The
c1sscd sneakmg dog, to leave me to die alone.
My poor old mother always told me 'twould be
So
La sakesl jest hear the poor crittur He's
got nanny, now said the old negress. "
cant help kinder pityin' on him.
Softly, softly don't thee snap and snarl
friend said Phineas as Tom WINGED and push |
ed his hand away. "Thee has no chance, un-
less stop this bleeding And Phineas busted
himself with making some of-hand surgical ar
rangements with his own ocket-handkerchief !
and such as could be mustered in the company. |
You pushed me down there said Tom |
family
well, if hadn't thee would have pushed
US down. thee sees" said Phneas as he stopped
to apply his bandage "There, there, let me
fix this bandage. We means well to thee we
bears no malice. Thee shall be taken to house
where they'll nurse thee first rate-as well as thy
own mother could"
Tom groaned and shut his eyes. In men of
ms class, ygor and resolution are entirely a
physical matter, and Done out with the flowing
OF the blood and the gigantic fellow really
looked pteous in his helplessness.
Inc other party now came up. The seats
were taken out of the wagon. The buffalo
SKINS doubled in iours were spread alLalonr