Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-09-12
New Series, Vol. 20, No 81.

but that of a hedgehog seuttling up tall
pine in terror.
L returned to the cabin and again
closed the door behind me. Probably
during the time it had been open Wrig-
giles had entered, but / did not see him.
nor did he make himself known when I
came in.
a little further watching from the
windows, and drowsy and half disgust
ed with what seemed to be fruitless
guard, climbed into the bunk, took a
book and began to read
may have read a page, perhaps a
chapter, but before long my heavy ewes
closed, the delicious languOr of the viii
derness oyereame me, and, all unprepar-
ed, l slept.
How long know not, doubtless an
hour or more, when sudden noise, like
the falling of heavy body awOke me
with start, and saw with wonder
that the door was wide open.
Surprised and yet dazed from my
slumber sought to rise when to my in
tense amazement L found that / was
bound hand and foot with heavy cord;
and even as l began to realize that L
was the captive, not the captor, a harsh
laugh broke upon my ears, and turning,
l saw standing near the cupboard in the
corner brawny negro!
"Ha! ha! Nasal You done wake upP
Don rise yit. Oars no hurry. When
| gifts what l wants III go way an We
kin sleep spell more till yer fren's
come home. They'll ontie We. Don't
rise yit, NASSAU and again he laughed
long and heartily.
You villiain!" cried; ''if you don't
loose me this instant and clear away
from here I'll have you in jail What
do you mean, coming here and tying
me in this way? Undo meP'
"What 1 mean?" he grinned; IL mean
to clear dis yer cabin of all de stuff kin
carry; dat's what l mean. And l won't
do We no hurt efye keep still, but eff ye
aggrevate me-loOk out; rs bad mig
ger, is!''
The reprobate shook his fist and glared
at me in such a manner that l believed
him.
''See here" said L; "let me go and l
will give you what you want if you'll
promise not to steal any more. That's
fair. Let me CO."
He laughed again grimly.
II won steal no mo- after dis time,
massa, I'll promise ye; case why? I'm
goin' to tote away ebery ting want dis
trip. An tell ye agin, DON talk to me
no moi"
The man was growing angry and
deemed silence but prudence on my
part, bound as l was.
The fellow was ransacking every por-
ton of our camp and had already gath
cred goOdly plunder, which he was
slowing in a pack basket intending to
carry it away upon his backi He work
ed hastily, and l saw that he was much
worried. Should my comrades return
he would be surely caught, or should 1
work free from my bonds before he had
gotten beyond my reach, l might fol-
low, obtain help and arrest him.
These dangers he evidently apprecia-
led, and so lost no time in his rascally
work.
Already he had taken what he could
ind of provisions, our tea, coffee, sugar,
baking powder and few cans of con-
lensed milk, when glaneing about his
Eyes fell upon the egg bag in the corner.
Striding to it he thrust his hand quick
Y into its open mouth to discover its
contents, but no sooner had he done so
han with wild yell of horror he sprang
Jack, his arm extended, and hanging
asst to his wrist, where its fangs were
great blacksnake, Wrig-
,lesI
"Pisoned! PisOnedp' he shrieked, while
lis face grew ashen-hued with terror
Use snake bit an pisonedI' and shak-
ng his arm as if it were the limb of q
rec. he succeeded at last in flinging the
eptile into a corner, where he writhed
nd twisted and played his forked
ongue, showing all the signs of snake
niger.
40 LordI o Lord! Use gWine to die,
ho'r' moaned the negro, while the dark
Hood fell drop by drop from his bitten
Frist.
l saw my chance and seized it.
"Untie me and can save you"
With cry of JOY he sprang to my
ide, and pulling sheet knife from his
cit he cut the cords which bound me.
80, massa! Good massa! Sabe me eff
e kin, an Ill swar on de Bible neber to
teal no mol O, massa! sabe mel /
eels de pison ereepin' tro' my veinsP
"Give me that knife" said l, ''and
old out your hand"
With a groan the fellow obeyed, andI
ut deep cash in the wrist where the
makes fangs had been, from which the
lood ran in little stream.
Now suck that wound and draw all
ne poison out" l commanded, land
uick. too, while 1 tie your arm above
ere''
Most gladly he obeyed, while bound
ligature tightly above his elbow. In
lct treated the bite exactly as if it
ad been given by a venomous instead
f a harmless snake, and in thirty min
tes had the negro's hand and wrist so
and his arm so lashed that he
as practically disabled.
Then commanded him to go outside
nd sit on the ground with his back
yainst the cabin while prepared some
ling for him to drink to antidOte the
DisOnl
l mixed for him at least quart of
w eggs and pepper, which L forced
IN to drink, followed by a glass of
rong salt and water!
The result may better be imagined
AN described. Suffice it to say that
hen the boys returned at about five in
e afternoon the thief was just able TO
ak, his fright and his treatment hav-
g made him very sick man; and aft
a thousand promises never to steal
rain, to return the articles already
ken and never TO forget me and my
ndness in saving his life, we allowed
m to depart, sadder if not wiser
an.
Doubtless a nights sleep renewed the
n - H., ha AID not rafnrn the