The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-02-08
BIDDEF0RD, MAINE, FRIDAY

/ crushed, and the nearest doctor lives in Lit
| tie Rock, hundreds Of miles from here. Bill
will you leave me lying here for four houis
only to see me afterwards Perish miseably?
ASK my own life, Tom. and will cheer
fully give it To you, but do not ask thing
50 dreadful, of me; can, must ave YOU =
have my hatchet-l can cut this tree in
pieces-I can--
Can you heal wounds like thcse?' said
Tom, intcrrup,ing him and he pointed will
his fingers to his crushed limbs. II was in
deed dreadful sight, and his brother sank
shuddering on his knees.
Il cannot murder you = he groaned forth
family.
Aud do you call it murder? Oh, Bill :!
he continued, If you had the slightest idea
ofwhat suffer, you would have compassion
you would not let me implore you in vain !!
Il will give you the rine-do not make me
brothers murderer cried Bill, in wild
anguish.
my right arm is broken-I cannot, even
il would.
tom = sobbcd forth the strong man, as he
cast himself beside his brother, 'what is it
you ask OF me?'
what did you lately do with Nestor,
when the bear had torn out his entrails"
Il shot him.
'lle was your favoritc hound
Bill answered only with sobs.
'!And did you love him more than you love
me-? asked Tom, in tone almost OF re-
proach.
'Oh, why did not listen to your warning,
when we came last evening to this unhappy
spot? Why did not fly from these withcrod
trunks: which stood threatening everywhere
around us? Why-r
Bill, said thcu6happy man, interrupt
ing him, will you not put an end to my
sufleringsY
Iwilln replied Bill weeping upon his
brothers neck. The two held each other in
q long and warm embrace, but when Tom, at
last, endeavorcd to push him gently from
him, the other clasped him the closer Day
now dawned in the east, and the suns rays
gilded the branches of the trees.
Let us part" said Tom, in q whisper,
'be man.
He now pushed bis brother kindly from
him and the latter rose. ..
well, then-bc it SOL he cried. Il sec
you are right-rescue is impossible. know
Also that would have required the same
from you in such case, and you would not
have refused me. Pray once more to God
and-pray for me. too, that he may forgive
me fox this deed - .
Bilrsagered forth to fetch his rifle; he
returned, however, with firm and steadfast
step, carrying the weapon in his left hand.
With the right he swung himself over the
trunks which lay scattered around, and, in
a few moments, stood again near his brother,
who looked up paflectionatcly in his face.
Il am ready = said Tom, with smile 'but
do not trcmblc-and may God reward you
for this faithful seryice-farewell =
Turning aside his face, he reached out his
left, uni1ured hand.
'Brother = cried the young hunter, borne
down by the fearful conflict ortpotions which
ragged within his soui, 'brother ? and he sank
once more upon his, breast
They held each other Mo convulsive clasp,
when Tom, at last, said in whisper, Delay
no longer and, with sudden bound, the
hunter lcapcd to his feet, lifted the rifle to
his cheek and the next moment lay senselesS
near the dead body Of his brother.
Little remains to be narrated. Why should
we describe how, when at last, his senses re-
turned, he heaped branch after branch upon
his brothers corpse, that the wolves and
nanthers might not iasten their greedy fangs
upon those beloved remains? How he stag
gercd onward; and tended by strangers,
wrcstled for months, with death, in the wild
fantasies of i>er? But enough of the ter
ri6le. Not long did the. blood.bathcd coun-
tcnancc of his brother startle him in his
dreams by night; not long did the visions of
that scene start him with a cry of horror
from his bed. On an expedition against a
band Of ssarauding Indians OF the Creek ma
tion, friendly bullet put and end to his cx-
utcncc, and his comrades buried him where
he fell.