Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1863-09-05

feliow-traveler was standing over me,
with one knee on my chest
"What! are YOU going" said I; but
my sentence was cut short by gag,
which my eccentric friend thrust into my
mouth and tied behind my head. He
then stood away to look Mt bis hand-
work, with eyes giarng like those of a
wild beast, and his whole frame tremb
ling with excitement
Now" said he, with a wild laugh,
'now ! shall be able to try my grand ex-
pertinent! now | shall be able to find out
whether the heart can be extracted while
a man is alive without killing him!-
Twice have failed. but the stars have
tod me that third time | shall not fail.
0, fame, glory, Immortality, i have you
in my grasp What! pitifu fool, DO
You turn pale and .trembles If you do
die, You will die glorious martyr TO sci
ence; and if YOU live, you and l will
share the glory of this grand discovery"
From this ridiculous rhodomantade, |
perceived that my pleasant eccentric trav-
cling companion was ravin 9 maniac
What was to do? | could not move
hand nor foot. nor even speak, and the
mailman was arranging, on the seat in
front Of me, = collection of bright steel
instruments which he took from his ma
hogany box which | have mentioned be-
fore. Was there any hope for me! |
tried to remember how long it was after
we left ii = before l went asleep, as |
thought if we only got TO F. the ma
MAC would he discovered, and | should
be relieved from the horrible deaf h which
now seemed imminent; but as ] had been
doing for some time before | went regi-
larry off to sleep, found that ! could
not in the least remember what time had
passed.
Afcr some time spent in preparing
his instruments, my prosecutor began to
prepare inc hy unbuitoning my waistcoat
and barring my breast. At length eve
~ thing seemed to his satisfaction, and
he took up "a sharp, kcen-bladeI knife
SHALL never forget my sensations when
saw that little instrument, SO soon TO be
dyed in my blool. felt cold shudder
run all through my body, and | longcd TO
close my eyes, but they seemed to keep
open by sort Of horrible fascination
Aver trying the edge of The knife, and
preparing cloth, ami giving one final
look to his instruments, my eccentric
friend pressed his iingorclose above my
heart anil said:
This is how I am gong 70 manage it
my friend; an going 10 cut circle in
the flesh, about the heart, with this knife;
it will not hurt much, as shall only cut
through the skin and the knife is exceed
ingy sharp. shall then proceed to dig
deeper with this instrument, AMI finally
extract the heart with thi-."
The reader may imagine my sensations
during this cold-blo )ded recital, for | am
utterly unablo 10 describe them: but when
the sharp steel first pierced my flesh, and
felt the warm blood flowing out, all my
past life seemed to pass before my mind
in moment of time, only to make my
desire Of still living, and the horror Of an
ignomnious death teuiold.
Slowly the sharp knife powei in my
flesh, making MY blood freeze in the
veins, anl my eyebalIs burr and feel
ready to burst from their sockets, and
now | felt my reason gradually leaving
me: the strain upon my nerves was too
much-they must give way; but | con-
siIered that, if they did. my only hope
would b. gone; for if if | moved | shod
be chokel with the rope round my neck.
Slowly the sharp knife, impelled by
the steady hand, continued its deadly
course; and now the circle was nearly
accomplished. when l felt that the speed
of the train was being gradually dimin-
ished. A ray Of hope illuminated my
breast. | looked into my companions
oros to 600 Sc 10 TOO ~st;sol tl."t
were nearing F.; but he was too
intent on his horrible work.
AT length he leaned back and said
"There nov, only about an inch more,
and shall commence the deep cutting"
Only about an inch! Ny life hung
upon the merest thread.
1t was not long that the experiment
tor admired his diabolical work, he soon
fell TO it again; but saw the lights on
F. Station flash past the window
of the carriage. | saw strange man
seize my tormentor; | heard loud and
appalling cry like that Of baffled wild