Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1896-04-09

toellnS q bit hlppCd of course, but
the others wcro jolly enough. As
think / told YOU, Phil had u weak
ness for pottoring about in scientific
messes, and hU found u kindred
spirit in Wilson, whose hobby was
birds. 1t WAS realty to gut some
specimens that he had originally
proposed this expedition.
BY the way, Wilson, said Phil.
have you over managed to got hold
of any Curare?'
'Curarc?' said Wilson. Il don't
know it. What is it,
Probably it has got somo other
name out hero. We called it Curaro
in . xford-Indian arrow poison, you
know
"'Oh! You moan "wouruli." No,
/ cant say have, and l don't think
1 want to either. 1t isn't a very safe
plaything.'
Safe enough said Phil, so
long as you haven't any cuts or
scratches on your hands
For heavens sake, shut up that
scientific shop exclaimed. We've
come out here to enjoy ourselves,
not to talk like COMPOUNDED British
association meeting.
Poor old Macv said Phil. What
shall we talk about? Will billiards
| door barmaids?'
Drop it, Phil, said. 1 don't
want to be u bear, but your iargon
isn't very interesting to chap who
hardly knows an ology from an ism.
Lots have something to cat
"We found shady spot under
some bushes to have our meal in.
We were just lighting up afterw ward,
and was holding the match to my
pipe, when something flashed out of
the bushes and knocked the pipe out
of my mouth.
"'What that said Phil starting
up.
81 It's a dagger, l said. just see
what's behind those bushes, you
chaps, while l tic my handkerchief
round this hand. I've got bit of
scratch. If it's The Queen, let her
| go. Thank goodness, she missed my
face.
1t 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 much hurt.
Its nothing serious l said.
Only scratch, but l think my
nerves must be bit upset. 1t has
made me feel horribly tired. I'll go
and lie down in the boat for awhile
and let you fellows finish your
smoke. I've got a bit of head
Maokay, you're crying ex-
claimed Wilson, and the sweat is
simply pouring down your face.
You re pretty badly hurt
"'Cryipg! shouted Phil. Wilson,
that dagger is poisonedr
Poisoned? You don't mean -
Yes, do. It's "wourali. " Co.
pious secretion of sweat and tears,
headache, feeling of extreme lassi-
| tudc-those are the exact symp-
toms Off with that bandage, Mac.
"'Good heavens. He's done for,
said Wilson
Done for? Not bit of it, Off
with that bandago. I'm going to
suck the wound"
Il had just got energy enough left
to protest against his doing this, but
he insisted, and ! was too feeble to
prevent him.
| Nonsense, man, he said. I'm
safe enough. The stuff ism t n rslison
t:.kon internally, even if | do man.
go 10 swallow some.
He put his lips to the wound,
and then | closed my eyes and cv-
erything became blank.
1T must have been hours after
ward that ] began slowly to regain.
/ can t say consciousness, but an in
definite sensation of existence and
horrible WEAKNESS. 1t seemed to mo
that | WAS swimming Oh and on
somewhere i'll n vague, purroSelesS
way, and ] was very, very tired. /
called 1t swimming, but that isn't
an exact description. / could feel
my arms moving back and fore with
n steady rhythmical motion, but tho
rest of my body was absolutely still.
| was almost suffocating for want
of air, but ! didn't seem to have
strength to gasp. How long that
SENSATION lasted | cant say, but it
must have been very long time. /
wouldn't voluntarily go through an
other hour of such unutterable and
helpless misery for anything you
could offer me. / tell you it has Civ
en- me my theory of what future
punishment may be like.
AS consciousness gradually re-
turned, the feeling of infinite weari-
ness became more and more unbear.
able. My arms were still swinging
backward and forward like couple
of animated pump handles, and
was quite unable either to stop them
or to move any other part of my
body. Try and imagine the sensa-
ton. 1t was simply awful.
when / did finally come to my
self so far as to know what was GO
ing on, I did it pretty thoroughly.
You know the theory that when a
man loses the use of his eyes his
senses of touch and hearing become
unusually acute? From my expert
ence that day can quite believe it.
/ had lost all power of motion, and
my perccptive faculties became, to
compensate, most uncOmfortably
| laan I fnlt n, if nnnll nlrnnrt GOO