The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-07-20

that only held him suspended above death for
the projection upon which he partially lay
though wide enough for the support of sure.
footed person in an upright position, was too
narrow to hold II rccumbcnt body. Even
shonld that vine hold firm the end must soon
come. He was bleeding profuseiy he felt
that he was growing fainter with each passing
moment; five minutes mOrc--tncn death.
AS in a dream, he saw the pale, yet not terri
fed, face of Il woman above hin-heard in
anxious voice calling to him. He answered.
what, he never knew. 1t was sufficient Saman
tina saw that he was alive, and she believed
| that she could save HIM.
Quickly removing the long and stout trail
rope from the neck OF her pony, she formed II
moose and lowered it to the wounded man The
prospect of rescue cleared his brain, and rcstor-
ed his cool senses He saw that il he released
his grasp upon the vine TO pass the moose
around his body he would fall from his slight
support, and SO he told her, begging her to
hasten for aid.
But Samantha saw that she could not 90
and return in time. He would weaken and
fall even if he did not bleed to death.
! She hurriedly drew up the rope and noosed
| il around the trunk of the stunted tree beside
which Seth had stood when he shot himself
| then coiling the rest over her arm she slid ov
| er the escarpment and lowered herself to the
ledge where he was lying.
Seth was in an agony Of apprchension-not
for himself. but to see her hanging to that APP
parantly trail rope--and yet she succeeded,
thanks to the free, wild life that had strength
ened her muscles and trained her brain
Cautiously STOPPING, she passed the rope
twice around his chest then kotted it firmly
Should the vine give way now, he could only
fall few yards.
Bidding him be of good cheer, the young
amazon carefully picked her way dozen feet
beyond, supported by the faithful rope, and
then began her difficult ascent taking advan.
tagc of each little point OF rock or crevice,
working with both feet and arms far enough
from Seth to prevent the dislodgcd stones from
disturbing him, and then reaching the top in
safety.
Barely pausing to take a few brcaths Sa.
mantha called up her pony and fastened the
trall.rope around his neck. Bidding Seth pre-
pare, she gave the word, and the well-trained
creature moved slowly away, inch by inch.
She crouched upon the brink in breathess sus-
pense, regulating the movements OF the mus
tang by IN occasional WORD.
Seth was still able to help himself slightly
and with his feet and sound arm, kept clear of
the projecting points and bushes. As he came
within reach, Samantha bent over and grasp
ing the moose lifted him over the edge, nor re-
leased her grasp until he sank senseless at the
foot of the tree.
Samantha was faint ana trembling from her
terrible cXertOns, but she did not talter until
the wounded arm was ruuciy but efficiently
bound up Then she secured the rope TO the
tree, so Seth could not possibly fall over the
cliff then mounted the pony and dashed away
at breakneck speed for assistance.
A wagon was brought, and Seth was convey
ed to the nearest hou-c-whCh CHANGED to be
the Brown farmhouse. \ doctor was sent for
and his arm attended to- Fortunately no bones
were broken, the charge OF. shot passing
through the tleshy part OF the forearm, and
after two weeks OF bed Seth was able to move
about the house.
But that short time was long enough for him
to recognize a true heart of gold beneath the
scmbancc of a young amazon, and as he found
that her wild, hoidcnish pranks did not arise
from any lack of true womanly dclicacy, he
fiattercd himself that he could effect retor-
nation.
That he did SO. | can bear testimony. 1T
would be hard to find more gentle, lady-likc
wife and mother than that same wild Young
Amazon.