Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1855-07-11

fellow lay buried alive.
Bill now regarded with shudder the
terrible scene. and madly threw himself
on the tree, which hundred men could
not raise, and tried his utmost strength
on an impossibility.
"BiIl," Tom gently begged him,
2" come here. conceive me your hand
that's right. And now, Bill-do you
really love me ?''
A convulsive grasp of his brothers.
hand answered this question I; speak he
could not, for the tears he had suppress
ed with difficulty suffocated every sound.
" Will you do me service ?'' Tom
implored, drawing the unresisting man
closer to him.
"a service % Bill whispered a
service What can you ask that would
not do for you if it was in my power ?"
" You promise to DO it ?''
"What is it ?" the hunter asked in
terror.
"Take your rifle" Tom begged, F." and
put an end to my sufferings,"
" Tom !'' the brother cried, as he
sprung up in horror.
Put an end to my suferings," the
unhappy man entreated, F." Bill brother
if you ever loved me prove it now. Do
not let me perish here, slowly and horri-
bly,"
81 will save you, if it cost my life,"
Bill cried. "I will return with assist
ance this very night"
That is not possible" the poor fel-
low replied, shaking his head.
GTTbo rovk 80 bo poor
est road, at least fifteen miles from here;
but the road you would have to go round
the rocks and ravines, is twenty and if
you come back. if you brought fifty peo-
pie with you, what help could they give
me ? Both my thighs are shattered, and
the nearest Doctor lives in Little Rock,
hundreds of miles from here, and whith~
er we scarcely know the direction. Bill,
will you let me lie here for days, and af-
terwards, see me perish miserably ?"
Ask my own life, and you shall have
it with pleasure ; but don't require such
a terrible thing from me ; it must be pos
sible to save you'll have my tomahawk
4 can cut this tree through-I can
Can you cure wounds like these %
Tom interrupted him, and pointed with
his hand to his thigh. 1t was terrible
sight, and the brother fell upon his knees,
with a groan.
"I cannot murder you," be gently said.
And do you call that murder? Oh,
Bill !' he continued, /" could you only
fancy the pain l am now suffering, you
would take Ompassion-would not let me
beg in vain"
II will give you ride-don't make
me my brothers murderer" Bill groan-
ed.
"My right arm is also broken ; can
not, even if would"
Tom - the powerful man sobbed, as
he threw himself by his brothers side,
what is it you want of me 2"
"What did you lately do to Nestor,
when the bear had torn him SO terribly ?"
"I shot him."
He was your favorite dog"
Bill only answered with sobs.
"And you loved him more than me ?"
Tom now asked. almost reproachfully.
Oh !! why did I not heed your warn
ing when We last night reached this un>
happy spot why did not avoid the de-
cayed trees that threatened US on all sides?
whywo.1a'
Bill ?" the unhappy man interrupted
him, " do you mean to free me from my
torture ?'
"I will - the poor fellow sobbed on
his brothers. neck. They held one an
other in cold embrace for long while,
but when Tom tried to unloose his hold,
his brother only held him the tighter
Day at length broke in the east, and the
sun shone on the chaos of wildly-scatter-
ed trees around.
Let us part" Tom whispered, be
man."
He quickly pushed his brother back,
aud he at length stood up.
"Well, then, be it so see you're
right-it is impossible to save you.
know, too, that l should have asked the
same of you in a similar case, ard you
would not have refused me. Pray to God
for the last time, and pray too 70. me,
that he may forgive me the murder of my
brother"
Bill tottered away to fetch his rife, but
he returned in a few moments with firm
and certain step. With his gun in his
left hand he swung himself with his
right hand over the scattered trunks, and
soon stood again by the side Of his broth
er, who looked afectionately in his face.
"I am ready ;" said the latter, with a
smile, " do not tremble, and God reward
you for your kiudness-good-bye !" He
offered him his hand as he turned his face
away.
"Brother ~ the tortured hunter cried,
in agony, and threw himself again on his
breast. Once again they held each other
in a close embrace, till Tom entreated
gently, Do not delay any longer" With
a hesty bound the hunter stood on his
feet, raised his rife to his cheek. and lay
the next moment unconscious by the side
of his brother he had shot.
What more have 1 to tell /? Shall de-