Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1891-12-24

COHlmunfblde. slney Hdu scIOiou ioi
the season IN the usual fashion and
were looking forward with the lack of
interest natural under the circum-
stances, to lonely Christmas, when
the monotony of camp life was broken.
1t is seldom broken except in one
way, and this was in accordance with
the rule. An accident happened. In
some mysterious way John Davidson,
the Oldest and most experienced man
in the gang" managed to slip and
fall partly under falling trunk and
was picked up senseless. The foreman,
Charlie Andrews, was somewhat skilled
in treating ordinary bruises and frac-
lures, and he examined Davidson care
fully, expecting to find several of his
bones broken, but none of them were,
and the men thought their comrade
would soon recover.
One evening when Andrews had fin
ished as careful an examination of the
unfortunate man as he knew how to
make, and had been able to get some
few replies to his questions, he said to
the others: I'm afraid it's no use.
dunno what I kin do fur him. He's
hurt inside somewheres en- he seems
to be failin' rapid | reckon he's goin'
ter cash in"
There was silence in the little group
for few moments, and then Joe Pei
ton spoke up. Joe was one of the
youngest iuen in camp, being only
twenty-one, but he was almost giant,
Every body in camp knew that Joe was
very much in love with Davidson's
pretty daughter, May, and also that he
had very slender chance of winning
her, for he was a rather reckless
youngster and the elder man was sus-
picious of him.
Don't you reckon he'd ought to be
taken to Minnea polis?" said Joe.
YES" said Andrews, "but / don't
believe he can get there in time.
There's three foot y snow on the trail
now, and there amt team in camp
that wouldn' t break down on the road. >
WELL" said Joe, very slowly, ''ii
you fellers II make me light sled to
night, III pull him down. It's only 6
little over fifty miles, an reckon kir
make it in two days"
II dunno" said Andrews, doubtfully
81 reckon it's likely you cd git through
If any body could, but yer mighty like
ly ter break down, an if yer do it's al
day with YER"
81 know it," replied Joe, coolly, "bu
I'll risk it. If git him home he may
have a chance, an if l don't he won''
be no worse off n he is now" 49,:
"Yes, but you WILL" SAM one OF thu
other men.
| III take my chances" said Joe
again, and they all saw he was il
| earnest -
One of the men, John Williams, of
fered to go, too, but Joe declined-..
IF kin git through atall,. %sald
81 kin do it alone, an, there's nousS G
more than one takin' the risk. II
turn in now an git good sleep an
take an early start
Joe started at daybreak and Johl
Williams insisted on going part o
the way with him to tighten the worl
in some degree. AS they started ever.
man in the camp gripped the hand o
the stalwart youngster in what eac
one thought was last farewell.
About noon Williams returned +
camp alone and almost broken dow
with fatigue 81 dragged the sleig
nigh FIVE miles," he said, IAN knew
couldn't git back at all if didn'
turn then. So turned. | tried to 81
Joe ter come back, too, FIR ! don't bt
lieve he'll ever git through alive
though he was fresh enough when
left him. But Joe's good grit. He on
clinched his teeth n said he was goir
ter make the best stagger he could &c
wards gittin' thar. Eff anybody kir
he kin, but reckon we've seen the las
o. both Of en-"