The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-12-23
The Anti-AIonopolist.

and the shore the mercliesS stream, which
could as easily sweep away a thousand men
as one.
There he remained until near night.
Gradually the population of Texas Bar and
Bixeis Flat accumulated on the spot. All
measures to float him a line, by which he
might be hauled on shore, proved abor
tive.
"I'll swim off and take a line to him. at
last said Sims.
mo, don't co. said some ne among the
crowd; .'it's certain DEATH
II will.' said Sims.
'sNo, you won't-not if I can help it,"
said Jim Freemantle. "You' re wrong to
try it; and if yon do,were going to stop you
We've as good a right to stopa man from
committing suicide as murder"
There was murmer of assent from the
bystanders. When again heemerged, it was
with a cooked six-shooter in his hand. He
came straight toward the group and spoke:
You say you will stop me from swimm-
ming Off to the Black Rock. 1 do not intend
that you shall. You have succeed in making
my life thoroughly miserable on this Flat
by injustice, taunt, and abuse, and now that
there's chance for getting rid of it you
want to stop me. You see you have made a
mistake. You've put me up for a man with
out grit. Well, I'm going to show you
that courage runs in streaks. and it takes
different circumstances in different men to
draw it out. I'm courageous enough now
to own that have backed down before some
of your six-s shooters, because l didn't think
my life was worth your dirty little claim.
But any of you would risk your lives in a
dispute over pack of cards, because you We
. fighting reputation to keep up at any cost,
and you dare not live to be called coward by
some hound who would pick your pockets
had he chance. Not one of you dare go
near Tom Wilson's cabin, when l nursed
him through the smallpox. Not one of you
dare go prospecting as did on the head
waters OF the Owens River aud camp out
| for weeks alone, fifty miles from the nearest
settlement. And I'm not afraid of the riv-
er, SAVAGE as it looks; for the roar of its wa
ers as Pve listened to them many long
night in my cabin, has been kinder voice
than any of yours, and if I drown, want
the Stanslaus to bury me somewhere deep
| down in its channel, where your hands at
least may never drag me out. Let me
plss!"
They made way for him. His face wa.
ed with proud step, like king going to
the scaffold. All the shrinking timidity.
! the baffled hesitation of former days, had
disappeared. 1t was another man who
passed through the crowd, another being
who had, as it were. suddenly risen up and
usurped the body of Timid Sims.
''He's got the sand, by" said Al
lex Wari.
| Jim Freemantle walked hastily a little
ahead of the rest. "Look here SIMS said
he, with more kindly information in his
voice than ever he had used in speaking to
him before; '.look here-come back boy
if you go in, you're only gon' to get drownd-
ed for Chinaman-'tis MT worth it any low
-and-and we've made a mistake, and
you're grit, that's all. Here, take my hand .
Sims took the profered hand. 1t was
but for moment. He did not allow the
grasp 10 detain him. .It's too late said
he. don't need them. stand above you
all. and I've known it this many a day I'm
going to prove to you that / don't fear
death. Ii should turn back, you'd say in
less than a week Pd.been playing game Of
bluff. | always knew | had grit enough in
me. 1t WANTED only your scorn and thai
poor creatures extremity to bring it OUT
He walked for few yards further up the
river bank. made one end of the light lin,
he carried fast to a stake, Invested himself
of his upper clothing, and holding the othe,
end of the warp. plunged in. 1t was al
over in moment. Down with race-hors,
speed he was borne on the surging mudd,
pillows toward the Black Rock: down h,
came, borne like a feather. with one arm
uplifted. as he was shot past, he held out IL
the Chinaman he life preserving line, which
the poor creature eagerly grasped. Blu
Sims could get no hold of the black ant
polished bowlder. The fearful current
roaring and trembling. bore him into thu
mounih of the Big Canon; but no one o.
Texas Bar after that hour ever spoke t,
..Timii Sims"