The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-08-02

smoothly along until the upper eddy be-
ing reached, the boats head was turned
into the mid current. Then it seemed
as il seized byG monster. II WINS whirled
aroand like a top, shot for second OH
the top Of great surge, and shot down
again out of sight and under. There
was n momentGry glimpse of the five
men, padding wildly and half rising
from their seats; the next they We're all
gone. A hundred yards below, like II
whale shooting out Of water to blow,
came the boat, bottom up, from the
depths, and clinging to it was Wang
Chu. 1t was dashed against the Black
rock and pressed under by the current.
Wang Chu sprang Oh the rock. The
rest were never seen. Sims and the
straggler gnzcd like men in n dream.
There, before them, were still tho rush.
ing, roaring stream, the sun shining, the
birds singing; all going on and having
gone through it all rs though nothing
was happening or had happened, and, in
five seconds, four human beings snatchcd
fron life to death
But Wang Chu must be rescued.
There was the poor, half.submergcd
creature on the rock, the icc-cold cur
rent ut times dashing clear over him, and
striving, rs it were, to tear him from his
hold; and between him md the shore
tho merciless stream, which could rs
easily sweep away thousand men MS
one.
There lie remained until near night.
Gradually the population of Texas Bar
and Bixels Flat accumulated on the spot,
All measures to float him line by which
he might be hauled on shore proved
abortivc.
"I'll swim of and take line to him, !"
at last said Sims.
"No, don't CO." said ono among the
crowd; :" it's certain death |"
81 will !" said Sims.
"NO, yOu won't-not il I can help it,
said Jim Frccmantlc. "You'rc wrong
to try it; and if you do, we're going to
stop you. We've rs good right to stop
man from committing suicide as
murder"
There was n murmur Of assent from
the bystandcrs. Sims turned away and
walked toward his cabin. When again
ho emerged, it was with 4 cooked six
shooter i'll his hand. He came straight
toward the group and spoke:
"You say you will stop mo from swim
ming of TO the Black rock. I do not
intend that you shall. You have sue.
cceded III making my life thoroughly
miserable on this flat by injustice, taunt
and abuse, and now that theresa n chance
for getting rid of it you want to stop me.
You see you have made mistake.
You've put me up for nun without n
grit. Well, I'm going to show you that
courage runs i'll streaks, and it takes
different circumstances in different men
to draw it ont. I'm courageous enough
now TO own that l backed down before
some OF your six.shooters, because l
didn't think my life was worth yon dirty
little claim. But any OF you would risk
your lives in dispute over Il pack OF
cards, because you've got n fighting
reputation to keep up Mt any cost, and
you dare not live to be called coward
by some hound who would pick your
pockets had he 4 chance. Not one of
you dare go near Tom Wilson's cabin,
when l nursed him through the small.
pox. Not one of You dare go Il proscct-
ing rs / did on the hCadwatcrs OF Ovens
river, and camp out for weeks alone,
fifty miles from tho nearest settlement.
And Tn not afra id OF the river, savage
rs it looks; for the roar of its waters, as
Hrc listened to them many Il long night
in my cabin, has been kinder voice
than any of yours, and if l drown, l
want the Struislaus to bury me some
where deep down in its channel, where
your hands at least may never drag Inc
ont. Let mo pass"
They made way for him. His face
was white, hard, firm aud desperate.
He walked with n proud step, like n
king going to the scall'old. All the shrink.
ing timility, the bNfllcd hesitation OF
former days, had disappeared. 1t was
another man who passed through the
crowd, another being who had, rs 1t
We're, suddenly risen up and usurped
the body of Timid Sims.
Jim Frccmantlc walked hastily little
ahead Of the rest. "Lloli here, Sims,
said he, with more kindly intonation
in his voice than ever he had used in
speaking 10 him before look here
come back, boy-if you go in, you're
only goin' to get drowned for China
man--tisn't worth it anyhow-and-and
we've mndo mistake, and you're grit,
that's all. Here, takc my hand"
Sims took the proilered hand. 1t was
but for moment. lie did not allow
tho grasp to- dctain him. ",It's too
late" said he. al don't want your
kind words now. ! don't need them. |
stand above you all, and I've known it
this many day. I'm going to prove to
you that I dent fear death. II should
turn back you'd say in less than week
I'd been playing 4 game OF bluff. l nj,
ways knew had grit enough in me. 1t
only wanted your scOrn and that poor
creatures extremity to bring it ont"
He walked for Il few yards further up
the river bank, made one end Of the
light line he carried fast to stake,
dvcstcd himself of his upper clothing,
and holding the other end OF the warp,
plunged in. 1t was all over in nc
meEt. Down with racchorse speed he
was borne on tho surGing, muddy bill
lows toward the Black rock ; down he
came, borne like feather with one
arm upliited, as he was shot past, he
held ont to the Chinamnn the lifc.pre-
serving line, which the poor creature
eagerly grasped. But Sims could got no
hold Of the black and polished boulder.
The fearful current, roaring and trcmb-
ling, bore him into the mouth Of the