The Shasta courier., 1866-01-27

Tom brother Tom-do answer, Tom
Great heavens has such q terrible end fallen
to your share?"
No! 1t would have been we'll for him if
that had been his lot; he still lived, and his
weak voice. at no great distance, struck the
hunters attentive ear
"All merciful heavens !" the latter cried,
.vhen he had quickly leapt over couple Of
trees lying in his way, and with blazing
pine torch in hand stood before him he
sought.
''All mereiful heavensr ~ he repeated, in
almost maddening agony, and covered his
face with his hands, for close to him, as
pale us a corpse. with both his thighs buried
beneath an immense oak which was shat
tered from top to bottom, lay his Tom, his
brother, the playmate of his youth, the
darling Of his heart.
Its very cold,'' the unhappy man whis-
pered and looked up imploringly to the hun
ter, who, apparently incapable of any fur
ther movement stood near him as if hewn
out of stone-'' it's very cold, Bill-can't
you bring me little fire?"
These words broke the charm which SEEM
ed to possess his half funconcious brother
Tom Tom !" he cried as he threw him
self with groans on the mutilated body of his
companion.
. You hurt me, Bill" the latter ontreated
Hmy arm pains me, and it is so cold"
Wait! you shall have fire in few
seconds" Bill now cried, as he sprang has
tily up. ''Lie there minute longer, and
III fetch some ashes, and then help you up
only q moments patience ~ and in haste
he few back to the still burning camp fire.
All he did not notice the features Of the
unhappy man as he begged him to have pa
tienoe.
lie hurriedly collected all the ashes and
burning wood his arms could hold-and
flames scorching his hunting shirt and hands
he did not notice it, but flew back to his
brothers side; plenty of drift wood lay
around, and in few moments bright
cheering fire flared up by the side of the tree
under whose giant weight the poor fellow lay
buried alive.
Bill row regarded with a shudder the
terrible scene, and madly threw himself on
the tree which ii hundred men could not
have raised, and tried his utmost strength on
an impossibility.
"Bill, " Tom gently begged him, "come
here, conceive me your hand-that's s
right And now. Bill do you really love
me ?"
4 convulsive grasp of his brothers. hand
answered the question speak he could not
for the tears he had suppressed with difficulty
sufocated every sound.
VIII you do me a service?' Tom i'm
plored, drawing the unressting man closer
to him.
"A sorvice!" Bill whispered" SER
vice What can you ask that would not do
tor 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, L" and put
an end to my sufe rings"
Tom !" The brother cried as he sprang
up in horror.
Put an end to my suferings," the un-
happy man entreated. Bill !! brother if
you ever loved me prove it now. Do not let
me perish here. slowly and horribly"
q L will save you if it costs me my life, )"
Bill cried II will return with assistance
this very night"
:" "Thatis not possible" the poor follow re-
piled, sorrowfully shaking his head. ''The
next settlement is, by the nearest road, at
least fifteen miles from here; but the road
you would have to go round the rocks and
ravlnes, is twenty; and if you brought fifty
with you what could they give me? Both
my thighs are shaft cred, and the nearest
doctor lives at Little Rock, hundreds of miles
from here, and whittier we scarce know the
direction. Bill, will 9rou let me lie here Tor
days. and afterwards zee me perish miser
ably ?'
. Ask my own life, and you shall have it
with pleasure; but don't require such o
terrible thing from me. 1t must be possible
to save you-l have my own tomahawk-I
can cut this tree throus HI cam
" Can you cure wo ands like these ?''-
Tom interrupted him. and pointed with his
hand to his thigh. 1t Vas a terrible sight.
and his brother fell upon his knees with a
groan.
. cannot murder yoll," he gently said.
. And do you call that murder? Oh,
Bill y he continued, q ''sould you only fancy
the pain | am suffering, you would take com
passion-,would not let me beg in vain"
= will give you ri le-don't make me
my brothers. murderer Bill groaned.
My right arm is ais broken. I cannot
even if / would"
Tom.' the powerful man sobbed, as he
threw himself by his br others side. .wbat
is it you want of me?"
What did you lately do to Nestor when
the bear had torn him So terribly ?'
u shot him.
He was your favorite dog"
Bill only answered wi tn sobs.
And you loved him more than me pr
Tom now asked almost reproachfully.
why did not heed your warning when
we last night reached til is unhappy SPOT -
why did l not avoid the decayed trees that
threatened us on all side s?-why-''
Bill!n the unhappy man interrunted
him, ''do you mean to free me from nv
| terrible tortures ?"
Il Will" the poor fellow sobbed on the
| neck of his brother.
| They held one another in a cold embrace
for long time but wh en- Tom tried to nm.
loose his hold, bis brother only held hin,
the tighter. Day at length broke in the
east. and the sun shone on the chaos Of
| wildly scattered trees around.
Let US part, Tom whispered; ssbo a
man"
He quickly pushed his brother back. and
| be at length stood up.
Well, then, be it so, | see Won are
right Ii is impossible to save YOU.
| know, too, that | should have asked the
same Of you in similar case, and YOU would
not have refused me. Pray to God for tie
last time; and pray, too. for me, that He
/ i.