Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-06-12

terpreted her wishes, Il am utterly
without the means to aid YOU. Even
the customary antiloteS | recklessly
flung away as Il useless burden. Now
/ would give my life for them. But
have courage! We can surely reach
the village in time to save your life,
though not YOU from suffering. Is
it very far?'
"NO,' was answered with Con
tracted throat and husky voice; mo,
but death is much nearer, and shall
never see father or mother again"
81 pray it may not be as YOU fear.
and we must hurry along ms rapidly
as possible. You know the shortest
way?'
Yes with painful utterance.
"Wait yet moment" he said
aloud, and then mentally, "the chance
is desperate and dangerous. My life
may be the forfeit, but l cannot see
one so young and fair die the most
fearful of deaths without rsking it to
save, at least relieve, her.
Trained in the school he had been,
familiar with toxicology, especially
the venom of serpents, none knew
better than he the danger
Gus task he was about to undertake.
A single abrasion ofmouth or tongue,
a carious tooth through which poison
could be absorbed, would be rs fatal
and a more sudden death than bullet
or knife. Yet there was nothing Of
hesitation after that first shudderiny
thought. Wiping away the bloody
oOze from the almost invisible pune
tured wounds he applied his lips to
to them one after the other and sucked
out the poison, freeing his mouth
from time to time, and not desisting
until assured the work was thorough
~ done, that he could do no more.
Then, and without giving heed to the
family whispered thanks, he put his
arm around the girl and hurried her
forward.
But not long could she direct the
way to travel, not long could her
limbs sustain her. Another terror
came to break down the little remain
ing nerve and strength, and she fall
tered, reeled and fell. She had gone
through as much of mental and ply
steal suffering as nature would endure,
had gone as far as she could.
With the rain descending as if the
windows of heaven had been flung
wide open and second food came
to earth, with the thunder rolling
and crashing above their heads and
shaking the solid rocks beneath their
feet, with the lightning flashing and
binding, she lay, scarcely able to
move hand or foot for self-preserva-
ton. But no fear of rattlesnakes
then. Before the terrible majesty OF
the elemental war even they had fed
terrified to the lowest depths ofthei1
noisome dens, and covered in such
fear as instinct gives, instict that in
many cases is twin brother ofreason
Though despairing of saving the
feeting life, yet driven nearly frantic
by being alone with the girl in the
now dense darkness aud now blind
ing glare, Myratt lifted her again ir
his strong arms and dashed forward
Guided by the lights of the village he
proceeded, whispering hope he die
not feel, receiving moaning whispers
for time and then no recognition.
The girl was beyond speech! HI
saw by the flames of lightning tina
the bitten hand and arm had swollel
to an immense size, that upon TIN
delicate flesh were reproduced tn
spots of the serpent, felt that tn
beating of the heart was growing
fainter and fainter, that the no
breath was becoming less and less
: knew that in a little time he wOul'
be carrying corpse, beautiful but al
hour before, theloathsome, discoloret
and hideous beyond the conception
: of those who have never seen such
: death.
8 Straining every nerve, pantin:
from speed and worn with his burden
Myratt still kept on, reached tn
path that led down to the village
; and was about to descend, when h
> was met by a party anxiously search
ing for the lost girl.
"Bitten by a rattlesnake? Dyin
. or dead? Stained and spotted wit
) the horrible leprosy of the serpen
poison? Oh, my God! it is terrible,
= groaned the poor father as the il
u sensible form was placed within hi
= arms and the fearful tale told.
= But the grief was as nothing tt
); the wild agonized sobbing an
= shrieking OF the loving mother, whe
:, she saw her darling brought in an
! laid upon bed, as hideous and r.
- pulsive as she had last seen her brlgh
= and beautiful.
o Physicians came, but their exper
3 ence and wisdom awaited little. Tn
poison had spread rapidly, bee
Is strongly incorporated with the circ'
O. lation. the action of the heart pa
:. alyzed until it had almost ceased t
. beat. Ammonia, iodine, everythin
~ to be thought of as an antidote, h,
= dratic and palliative medicine wei
h tried without giving relief The hi'
% eous spots grew larger and MOI
20 distinct; sinuous, twisting, creepin
l.. ok frtW