Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-11-05
int any, either. 1t isn't a safe

Poor old Mac, said Phil, 'WDaL
shall we talk about? VIII billiards do
or barmaidsY
drop it, PHIL said; 4 don't want
to be bear, but your jargon isn't very
interesting to a chap who hardly knows
an Ology from an ism. Let's have
something to eat
1--WE found shady spot under some
bushes to have our meal in. We were
just lighting up afterward, and l was
holding the match to my pipe when
something flashed out Of the bushes
and knocked the pipe out of my mouth.
"'What's that, said Phil, starting
up.
ats a dagger I said. Just see
what's behind those bushes, you chaps,
while tie my handkerchief round this
hand. I've got a bit a scratch. If it's
The Queen let her go. Thank goodness,
she missed my face
ut was the Queen They caught
sight of her among the bushes, but she
got away all right. They didn't follow
her far, but came back to see If was
hurt.
Its nothing serious said, only Il
scratch, but think my nerves must be
a bit upset. 1t has made me feel hOrrib-
" tired. I'll go and lie down in the boat
for while and let you fellows finish
your smoke. I've got bit Of head
'Mackay, you're crying exclaimed
Wilson, and the sweat is simply
pouring down your face. You're pretty
badly hurt
"Crying! shouted Phil. Wilson,
that dagger is poisOned%
Poisoned? You don't mean
"'Yes, l do. It's "wOurali." cOpiOus
secretion of sweat and tears, headache,
feeling of extreme lassitude- these are
the exact symptoms. Off with that
bandage, Mac
Good heaVens he done for said
Wilson.
d" Done for? Not bit Of it. OFF with
that bandage; I'm going to suck the
wound!
81 had just got energy enough left to
protest against his doing this, but he in
sisted, and was too feeble to prevent
him.
Nonsense, man. he said; Pm safe
enough. The stuff isn't a poison taken
internally, even if do manage to swal-
low some
"He put his lips to the wound and
then l closed my eyes and everything
became blank.
1T must have been hours afterwards
that began slowly to regain. can't
say consciousness, but an indefinite
sensation of existence and horrible
WEAKNESS. 1t seemed to me that l was
swimming on and on somewhere In a
vague, purposeless way, and was very
tired. call it swimming, but that isn't
an exact description. 1 could feel my
arms moving back and fore with a
steady, rhythmical motion, but the rest
of my body was absolutely still. l was
almost suffocating for want Of air, but
| didn't seem to have strength to gasp.
! How long that sensation lasted l can't
say, but it must have been a very long
time. l wouldn't voluntarily go through
another hour Of such lnutterable and
helpless misery for anything you could
offer me. tell you 1t has given Inc my
theory of what future punishmciis may
be like.
"As consciousness gradually returned
the feeling of infinite weakness became
more and more unbearable. My arms
We're still swinging backward and for
ward like a couple of animated pump
handles, and 1 was quite unable either
to stop them or to move any other part
of my body. Try and imagine the SEN
satiOn; it was simply awful.
when l did finally come to myself so
far as to know what was going on I
did 1t pretty thoroughly. You know the
theory that when man loses the use
Of his eyes his senses Of touch
and hearing becomes unusually acute?
From my experience that day can be-
lieve it. had lost all power of motion;
and my perceptive faculties became, 70
compensate, most uncomfOrtably keen.
felt as If could almost see through
my closed eyelids.
''Phil told me afterward that the pc
culiarity of 'wOurali' poisoning is that
If the dose is not very large only the
nerves of motion are paralyzed, while
those of sensation become abnormally
sensitive. knew everything that was
going on around me, and 1 could hear
every word they said. but 1 couldn't
even wink to let them know was
alive.
"They had stuck a knife handle be-
tween my teeth to keep my mouth open
and the WEAKNESS in my arms was
caused by the fact that for nearly
day and a night Phil and Wilson had
been taking 1t in turns to practice ar
tifclal respiration on me.
"'EdgertOn, I heard Wilson say. do
you think it's any good going on longer?
He has not breathed now for twenty
hours. believe he Is dead.
"'W will go on as long as we can
stand 1t! said Phil, and l blessed him
for 1t. IF we can only keep the arti-
fetal respiration going till the poison
is eliminated he will recover. For Gods
sake, keep it up as long as you can,
Wilson,
IF you think there Is the slightest
chance Of saving him I'll go on; but
don't think can last out much longer
He is still warm, Wilson, and
won't give up hope as long as that is
So
THAT was a nice. cheerful cOnversa-
ton to Overhear, wasn't It? Listeners
never hear good Of themselves, it is
said, but doubt whether the most per-
sistent eavesdropper ever had the
pleasure Of hearing a man pronounce
him dead without being able to contra
dict the statement. If l hadn't begun
to breathe spontaneously pretty soon
after that l should never have had the
opportunity Of contradicting It, Phil
and Wilson cOuldn't have gone on