The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-10-04

into tho mid current. Then it seemed as
If seized by monster. it was wbirled
around like top. shot for a second on
the top of a great surge, aud shot down
again out of sight aud under Thorc Yves
a momentary glimpse Of tho FIVE men,
padding wildly and half frsiog from their
seats; the next they were all gone. A
hundred yards below, like q whale shoot
ing out of water to blow. came the boat,
bottom up, from the depths, and clingug
to her was Wang Cbu. 1t was dashed
against the Black Rock and pressed
under by the current. Wang Chu spraug
on the rock. Tho rest were never seen.
Sims aud the straggler gozed like men 10
dream. There, before them, were still
the rushing, roaring stream, tho sun shin
ing, the birds singing all going on and
through it all as though nothing was hap
peniDg or had happened, and in five sec
onds four human beings snatched from
life to death.
But Wang Chu must be rescued.
There was the poor, half submerged
creature on the rock, the ice cold current
at times dashing clear over him, and
striving as it were, to tear him from his
hold ; and between him and the shore the
merciless stream, which could as easily
sweep away thousand men as one.
There he remained until near nipht.
Gradually the population of Texas Bar
and Bixel's Flat accumulated on the spot.
All measures to float him line by which
he might be hauled on shore proved
aboi tive.
"l'll swim off and take limo to him."
at last said Sims.
mo, don't co." said somo one among
the crowd "it's certain death :" Q
II will !" said Sims.
"No you won't-not if | can help it."
said Jim Frcemantle. You're wrong to
try it; and if you do, we're going to stop
you. We've as good right to stop a
man from committing suicide as murder"
There was murmur Of assent from the
bystanders. Sims turned away and walk.
ed toward his cabin. When he emerged,
it was with cooked six shooter in his
hand. He came straight toward the
group and spoke:
."You say you will stop me from swim.
ming OIL to the Black ltock. | do not
Intend that you shall. You have sue.
ceedod in making my life miserable on
this Flat by injustice, taunt and abuse.
and now that there's a chance for getting
rid of 1t you want to stop mo. You see
you have made mistake. You've put
me up for man without any grit. Well,
I'm going to show you that courage runs
10 tleaks, and it takes different circum.
stances in different men to draw it out
I'm courageous enough now to own that
have backed down before some of your
six shooters because | didn't think nv
life was worth your di,ty little claim.
But any of you would risk your lives in
dispute over pack of cards, because
you've got fighting reputation to keep
up at any cost, and you dare not live to
'e called coward by some hound who
would pick your pockets had he a chance.
No. one of you dared go to Tom Wilson's
'abin when | nursed him through the
mall pox. Not one Of you dared 70 o
as | did on the head waters
u '.e C"cu . ih0i aud camp ont for
weeks alone, fifty miles from the nearest
ettlemont. And I'm not afraid of the
iver, savage as it looks for the roar of
is waters, as I've listened to them MANY
! long night in my cabin has been
Under voice than any of yours, and if |
Irown, | want the Stanislaus to bury me
omewhere deep down in its channel
Vhere your hands at least may never
raw me out. Let ME pass"
They made way for him. His face was
'hiie, hard, firm. and desperate. He
7alked with a proud step, like q king 90.
ng to the scaffold. All the shrinking
imidty, the baffled hesitation of former
ines had disappeared. 1t was another
nan who had passed through the crowd,
mother being who had, as it were, sud.
enly risen up and usurped tho body of
'imid Sims.
He's got the sand, by" said
lick Ware.
Jim Freemantle walked hastily a little
head l,I OF the rest. Look here, Sims"
is voice than ever be had used In speak
ng to himl before, comeback, boy-if you
o in you're only goin' to get drowned
Or a Chinaman-tisn't worth il anyhow
.apd-and we've made a mistake and
ou're grit. that's all. Here, take my
and"
Sims took the proGered hand. 1t was
ut for moment. He did not allow the
,rasp to detain him. ats too late," said
70 II don't want your kind words now.
don't need them. | stand above you
ii, and Two known it this many a day.
m going to provo to you that | don't
ear death. IF ! should turn back. YOU'D
ay in less than a week I'd been PLAYING
game of bluff | always knew | had
,rit enough in me, 1t wanted only your
corn and that poor creatures extremity
o bring it ont"
He walked for few yards farther ND
he river bank, made one end of tho lipbt
inc he carried fast to stake, divesied
himself of his upper clothing, and holding
he one end of the warp, plunged in. 1t
vas all over in a moment. Down with
ace horse speed he was borne on the
urging muddy billoSs toward the Black
Rock down he came, borne like reath.
r, with one arm uplifted, as he was shot
'ast, be held out to the Chinaman the life
,reseryinp line. which the nnor crootnro
agerly grasped. But Sims could get no
old Of the black and polished boulder
he fearful current, roaring and tum.
ling, bore him into the mouth Of tho Big
)auon but no one on Texas Bar after
hat hour ever spoke of "Timid Sims"
1t occurred in Oshkosh, "Will you DO
t?' she said, twistiu one end Of the
trap around her hand and fetching him n