The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1872-07-18

Sim Jiuks, who had behaved so noby in
the advance the night before, was sore ind
stiff, but, worse than that his fingers were
cut to the bone by his Efforts to gropc n
pathway for his companions.
Stay here, boys, aud III go'o the
head Of this Gu and SEQ how things look
beyond. If the road aiu't good, We kin
get back to Jackson's Gulcb, for il dou''
take tho water long to empty out dow
thar
AS Bulgcr spoke, hc strapped his pis.
tolls outside his fur overcoat, and stnr,e'
up the rarinc. His companions sa. down
and watched him till hc turned corner
fifty yards above.
II don't take much stock in llulgcr,
SIM" said Dick Gross, looking around
with a hungry expression AS il there might
in some miraculous why, bo something
ea,able on the bare cold rocks about
him.
II don't like this said Sim. pulling
from his pocket tho rope. That ar was
cut in a twinklin last night. Allen
Smith wouldn't DO fool enough to sit on
o limb above cabin, an' !Lcn saw It of
close to the tree.
Dick had barely time to imply that
Sims reasoning met bis approval, rs some.
thing thar was no kinder uso a.trying
to git around" when bang! bangl bung!
bang! in rapid succession, came the report
ofpistols from the angle in the rock above,
and both men fell bleeding on tho lille
plateau.
's Still the snow poured into tho ravine In
white waves, fast rising to the level Of the
'plateuu; but as the snow rose, the waters
10 Jackson's Gulch, thoroughly exhausted
by their efforts Of the previous night, sub.
sided. leaving huge boulders and uprooldd
trees, which il had tossed about like play
things few hours before. laying slimly
and barkless on the banks.
Allen Smith was never more conscious
10 bis life than when be dropped from the
slippery rock into the torrent Of Knots
Greek. lie could swim, and he made a
desperate attemps, %. strike out, but big
strong arms we're powerless asa'ust THO
stronger current, and he was dashed about
like q bubble, but. strange to say., did NOT
siuk, The ol.skin cont was inaated,lik n
balloon. and, while It prevented bis imme
diate death BY drowning it subjected him
to the danger, equally great, from falling
trees and dashing rocks
Down, With the velocity Of q race horse,
the current bore him. as be sauk lower
aud lower 10 the 'ehilling waters. How
long time clasped before ho reached Coy
ote Creek he could not tell; but thcequul
ly sudden and powerful current Of the
Coyote entered Kuott's Creek nearly al
right angles, where the waters batlled fo'
the right Of the way in whirlpool lpt'.
this Allen Smith was drawn and sveF
about in thp giddy circulating eddy. He
grasped. something, but it seemed like I.
dream Reason and hopo went out. aud
Allen. Smith suffered III the pains Of death,
and became unconscious.
He awoke, bu. be was still 10 Jackson's
Gulot. A fire was burning near him. .-
lie was lying on warm blapkets' I've
men were standing near the FIRE. H.
recognized them as Sol Hcmpbll. and n
ueighbor. There was soft hand on bis
forehead. and q warm breath on bis cheek
He looked up, and there. With pale, aud
anxious face, was the pretty Lucy Hen
phil bending over him.
Allen was kissed, and the two men
shook his poor lacerated hand gently, bu'
hone tho less heartily; and Sol Hemphill
who would not permit Allen TO rise, ex
planned the situation.
Lucy amt gal as takes on with
dreams, an ghosts, su' that sort Of tom
Allen; but sbe got up last night
about Que o'clock. lookin' awful white an
purity, au' saya, comm into my room al
dressed, Father ihar's trouble over in
JacksOaI's Gulch. have had an awful
dream an I'm goin' thar. l thought she
was crazy. but uothin' would do; so sad'
lied two horses, an took some blank.
,ts nm provisions, an we started II was