Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-09
dying man only can understand.

dying man only can understand.
1 have always, since that day, understood
perfectly the feeling that induces drowning
man to catch at straw that he sees floating
near him.
How it was that I succeeded in grasping it,
or holding it, or managing to make it afford
me kind of support, have no idea
remember of thinking that had stopped;
of being aware that was bleeding badly;
Of wondering If I was dead, and why
such an eternity of time had elapsed since my
foot had slipped; and then darkness closed
around me-
l was aroused by a sharp pain In my ieIt
arm, and opening my eyes saw two or three
persons standing around me whom l dld NOT
recognize, though realized the TACT tnat
was not dead, and Immediately relapsed once
more into state of insensibility, to be again
aroused by a terrible twinge Of pain IN my arm.
Opening nv eyes, saw the doctor with
pair of scissors, which | recognized as my
own. in his hand, with which he seemed TO be
engaged in cutting my coatsleeve, while a
confused mass Of something seemed above and
around him on all sides. At first could not
soem to understand what it meant, then /
knew them to be human faces, and then
When l next awoke 1 was lying in my
blankets, with, was sure, q broken arm, and
was pretty well convinced by the feeling of
my body that had not a bone in it that was
not in some manner injured The doctor was
sitting a short distance from me complacently
smoking his pipe in the bright light Of the
camp fire.
said to him; "Well, old fellow, you seem
to be taking it easy"
He replied: Eyes; and if you know when
you're well off, you'll do the same thing Go
to sleep again, and in the morning you shall
know about it."
Reader, l obeyed orders, because couldn't
helpit. went to sleep.
"How's your arm this morning, and how do
you feel!"
"Sore! Tell rue about it, doctor"
"Tell you about it. l wish / could. The
first thing we knew of your mishap, we saw
you going down the face of the bluff on your
back, at rate of speed that would have put
to shame old Pegasus himself, without even
the compliment of notifying us of your in
tended trip. 1t was some seconds before l
comprehended the situation, and even then
we could neither of us do anything, and GER
tainly never expected to see you alive again.
away down below that you were all right ,
and then Don Rafael started off like the
wind, and almost before the old cacique or
had time to collect our senses, and think how
we could render you any assistance, he was
back with half a dozen ZuniS and some
lariats. declare don't think he was gone
five minutes When you think Of the dis
lance he was obliged to travel to the pueblo
loc hot ho
have gotten over the ground in such short
space of time.
They went to the terrace above you, and
Don Rafael and one of the Zunis were low
cred to the spot where you lay, attached the
ropes around your body, and you were then
hoisted, more dead than alive, to the ledge
where the Zunis stood, after which you were
carried upon their shoulders to the plain be-
low We laid you upon the grass, and l
made an examination to ascertain the extent
of your injuries, and greatly to my satisfaction
| and delight found that your only serious in
jury was a broken arm. l managed to sue
cessfully set it, after which you were brought
here. 1t was really most wonderful es-
cape: the thing couldn't be done once in
! 10000 times; for, with the exception OF
your broken arm, which isn't bad fracture
! by any means, ana some preCty rOuSn Olo
bruises, you are quite unframed. A few days
will set you all right again. only wish
had some arnica for you"
So ends the narrative, concerning which
the author adds in his contents: IF you
doubt me, try it yourself~ Sensible people
will avoid risky experiments on holiday &C
casions. A good 'outing" need not become q
source of special danger The wild spots of
nature should always be approached with
caution. Above all-those who come limp
from city life should not make any rash at
tempt to perform feats which demand the
steady nerve and sure foot of trained
| mountaineer.