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
az: 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! I"
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 moment rather undecided.
Il think YOU must have hit some on EN-,
said one Of the men q" ] heard squeal ~
am going right up for one" said Tom. 81
never was afraid of niggers and amt gong
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
hindermost 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 fired-the shot entered his side-but
though wounded, he would not retreat but with
a veil like that Of a mad bull, he was leapng
right across the chaSm into the party.
Friend said PhineaS suddenly stepping TO
the front and meeting him with push from
his long arms. thee isn't wanted here"
Down he fell into the chasm, cracking down
among trees, bushes, logs loose stones I'LL ne
lay bruised and groaning thirty feet below The
fail might have killed him. had it 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 !" sand
Marks. heading the retreat down the rocks with
much more of will than he had joined the
ascent while all the party came tumbllng pre-
e;:.sssy after him--tba gat a@o"'"'le< - par |
tjcuIar blowing and putting in a very energetic
Manner .'1r
Il say, EeIlers" said Marks @you jist go
round and pick up Tom there, while run and
get ON TO my horse to 90 back for bel p-thats
YOU and, without minding the hOotings and
jeers of his company, Marks was as good as
his word, and was soon seen gallopng away.
Was over such Il sneaking varmint !" said
one of the men to come on his business, and
he clear out and leave us this yer way!
well we must pick up that leller,' said
another. "Cuss me if much care whether he
is dead or alive
The men, led by the groans of Tom, scram-
bed and cracked through stumps, logs, and
bushes, to where that hero lay grooming and
swearing with alternate vehemence
"Ye keep it agomg pretty loud, Tom" said
one aye 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 EN- down here, to see
how they liked it,
With much labor and groaning, 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 II handkerchief or some
thing to stuff into this place and stop this in
fernal 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 reeled, and fell heavily to the ground
ooh, hope he isn't killed, ;" said Eliza, who, |
with all the party stood watching the pro-
ceedng
why not" said Phineas; serves him
right
Because, after death comes the Judgment
said Eliza. -
syrsy' 81, Jiiccdnter, its an awful case for
the poor crittur's soul
"On my word, they're leaving him, do be-
lieve," 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 y
he said al told Michael to 90 forward and
bring help, and be along back 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 EN- entirely.D
As the party neared 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 Amarah" exclaimed Phineas, ioyfully.
Now we are made-as safe as if we'd got
there
well, do stop, then said Eliza, "and do
''A "N'hN IoOA mail nc y EfOhIllnE
dreadfully"
at would be no more than Christian said
George; +" let's take him up and carry him ON, y
And doctor him up among the ouakers ~
sand Phneas; pretty well, that! Well. | don't
care if we do. Here, let's have look ut him y
and Phmeas, who, in the course of his hunting
and backwoods life, had acquired some rude
experience Of surgery, kneeled down by the
wounded man, and began a careful examina.
ton of his condition
Marks" said Tom, fecbly % is that YOU.
Marks 2"
"No; reckon faint, friend" said Phineas
Much Marks cares for thee, if his own skins
safe. He's off long ago.
81 believe I'm done for said Tom 0Tbe
cussed sneakmg dog to leave me TO die alone
My poor old mother always told me 'twould be
80"
= La sakcs jest hear the poor crittur. He's
got nanny now said the old negress 81
cant help kinder pityn 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 I'M
less stop this bleeding And Phineas busted
himself with making some off-hand surgical ar
rangements with his own ocket-handkerchief
and such rs could be mustered in the company
h" 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, yigor and resolution are entirely |
physical matter and ooze out with the flowing
OF the blood; and the gigantic fellow really
looked pteous in his heplessness.
inc other party now came up. The seats
were taken out of the wagon. The buffalo
skins doubled in fours were spread all -alonr
one side and four mon, Ill -. l,G us