Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-12-10

between US up and down and round
tho tent. From time to time we
made him drink more brandy. He
had taken half q bottle, but it seemed
to have no effect on him.
1T stimulates the hearts action,
you know" Jock explained, Just as
the poison goes to stop it, but
stryohnine's the bost-acts as nervo
tonic. It's a deal to do with the
nerves, this snake bite business"
We heard the little ground owls
begin whistling to each other from
tho mouths of tho squirrel holes
away down on the plain, and the
bats and moths began to come out
as the sun sank out of sight. They
brushed our faces as we continued
to march the Mexican to and fro.
Presently l left the work to Jock
and rugged up pino torch for q
signal light on the polo, which l took
from the wagon. The Job took some
while, but at length 1 got tho light
fairly flaring.
Look at his face" Jock whisper
ed to me rs came back to him.
1t was n shocking sight under the
hiokering rays, swollen, distorted,
livid. The man s arm was swollen,
too, as felt when l took my place
to support him. His movements
wero lethargio and heavy, 80 that
wondered that Jock, unaided, could
have kept him moving so long.
Give him more brandy" Jock
more; that s it. He's had
nearly all the bottle. There's a
chance" he went on presently. II
really believe there is. I thought
he'd have been dead before now.
Maybe he don't mean dying after
all. A white man'd have been dead
half an hour ago"
II wish the dootor'd come"
Mighty little good wishing"
The weary tramp went on. Twice
l had to replenish the beacon torch,
and once more we gave the Mexican
n gulp of the brandy, which finished
the bottle
AS was fixing the torch for the
third time 1 heard shout down
the canyon. l answered with all
my might, and in q few minutes
Jim Kelly and the doctor rode into
the oirole of the faring light.
"Aliver" the doctor asked.
ALIVE, yes" said Jock. "Alive,
and that's about all. He can't speak "
What have you given him
brandyp that's right. How muoh?"
"A bottleful."
Right and you've kept him
awake? That's it. He won't die
now, Wonderful fellows, these
Greasers. He'd have died before
this If he meant dying. Let's see
the wound"
The candle burned as quietly in
the still air as in room. The Next
cans foot was swollen, SO that it
scarcely looked like human men,
Der, but in the midst of the purple
swelling was white circle with the
little blue mark, plainly evident, for
its center. The Mexican seemed to
feel no pain, even when the doctor
handled the wound and pressed it
upward with his fingers.
Hold the candle close" he said
Its blamed strange, he added,
"blamed strange" peoking at the
little blue mark with his forceps.
1.-THE fang's in the wound yet. l
never heard of that happening be-
fore. Shake him bit. Don t let him
go drowsy."
His swollen limbs wabbled like
jelly under the treatment. 1t was
horrid.
The doctor gave u little dig and
then u little tug with his forceps.
Presently he held up to the candle,
in the clutch of the forceps, a long
white spine and regarded it curious
ly.
Then he said in q hollow voice
do you know what 1t is? It's not
a fang at all; it's cactus spike"
WHAT
A strangely perplexed little group
of men gazed into each other faces
with questioning eyes under the
stars that twinkled out over the
snow topped edges of the Sierras.
"Only thornl'
Look at it." the doctor said.
You can see the thing for your
selves"
One after the other we examined
the spine, feeling it's point with q
finger that we certainly should not
have ventured near it had it been a
poison fang. And there's nothing
else in the wound?" Jock asked
mot thing else."
And you meen to tell me that
I've wasted two hours of my time
to say nothing of bottle of our
best brandy, in walking about q
Greaser that has nothing the matter
but thorn in his foot? Well, am
darned."
That's about what you have
been doing, the doctor said quietly.
We'll, am dnrned, Jock turned
with look of righteous wrath 10
the wretched Mexican, who was ly-
ing in a comatose heap i'll my arms
but the first sight of his face check
cd tho words unspokon.
"Shnko him up; keep him walk
ing. the doctor cried.
But You don t mean to tell me, ~
Jock began again, when we had sue
ceedod in arousinR some sign of life
in Louie, that all that" pointing
at his distonded features, lis the