The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1896-11-27

fonts, and managed, with infinite toll
an axe being tho only tool available q
scoop out the trench In which he de-
posted The poor aomblanool Of hu'
manity-olovon Ia number. His holi'
imposed task was lcalhsomo In the Ok
tremo, and when II was completed be
felt sick and exhausted.
Ho learned from the young woman,
whowasrapidly rogainingslrength, that
she aud her companions had formed
one OF n number OF small parties into
which tho main camp Of the Creos had
broken mp when the disease FIRST at
tackled them, hoping Ia that way 10
avoid oontagion. II was believed TO
have come 30 them through tho
Bloods and Sarceos, from the Wood
Mountain country, whore II was said
10 be raging. Ho heard hor story with
great concern. Ho knew that the
hunters we're following the buffalo
TO the southwest, which would
lead them directly to the
very source OF tho disease. II,
happily, thoy had thus far escaped
falling in with any OF the fugitives,
who we're fleeing in all directions from
tho dread pestilonce. there might even
yet be time 10 save the brigade by
turning them back 10 the settlement.
He was sick. His bones we're racked
with pain, his head splitting, his eyes
burning, his throat parched, his step
heavy and uncertain, but no matter
no would make the attempt. The
woman dissuaded him.
'Stay, my brother. It isnot in thee
30 do what thou wouldst. The bad
sickness is upon thee, even now, and
before thou hast ridden far, the blind
ness will come, and who then will lead
thee to thy people? Stay, l will care
for thee when thy strength leaves thee,
and when it returns, we will 60 to-
gether and warn the hunters"
He would listen TO neither argument
nor appeal his resolve was taken and
he would carry it out or die. So he
mounted his horse and set his face
southwark. HIS thought was to head
off the brigade on tho trail which he
felt sure they we're following, and post
up a warning that they would be sure
to find. Ii he could only succeed,
what would the rest matter. He had
lived too long. The day OF his dis.
grace should have been his last, but
if he accomplished his present pur
pose, and saved his dear little child
friends and their good mothers, ant
Marie-his Marie-his life had beer
we'll expended. Weak aud pest-strick
en- as be was, he urged his horses for
ward, taking no heed of time, unies
to curse the tagging moments wher
he was forced to stay his race with
death to rest and feed his trusty bron
cho. he dared not sleep. When no
in the saddle, he forced his trembling
limbs to bear him to aud fro, to an,
fro-a weary picket repelling the ad
vance of ambush of death.
How long and how far he rode hi
knew not. The horse, logged ant
forced to the limit Of endurance, fal
tered in his stride aud gave signs o
collapse, as one morning at sunrise
he toiled YEARLY to the summit of
little hill that overlooked the Woo
Mountain trail. The poor brut
stopped on the hilltop and uttered
loud neigh that reused his maste
from the stupor into which he ha
fallen. An answering neigh came u
from the valley, and raising himsel
painfully upright Louis saw, throug
a blood-red mist, two mounted me
, approaching rapidly-the advanc
guard of the brigade.
"Ho, be" they hailed as they cam
nearer. "But, holy name, it's Louis
, Ho, no, boy, what arc you dom
there?"
! "Stopp he shrieked, "stop for you
lives The pest-the smallpox
0 everywhere on the plainsl To tn
camp! Back To the settlement
, Tell Mar" His voice died away
, a moan, and he fell from his saddle
. inert and lifeless. The horse, free
from his weight, made an attempt
O join his fellows, but the hunters shC
him deal and rode away toward cam
! as if pursued by demons, shouting tt
warning as they went, "lhe small
{ poxl The smallpox"
: "God be praised. The fever hi
= left him; he will live.
O The words, spoken in q low, familir
r voice, greeted Louis's ears, rouse
from unconsciousness, as it seemed
a him, by the pressure of soft, Co
/ hand on his forehead. He opened h
+ eyes YEARLY, and they rested on ii
o kindly face of Pere Lachaise, smilir
/ down into them, and beside it anoth
face, beaming with love and newbol
hope-Marie's. Massey's Magazin
j. Goo Shooting.
= Here is a dramatic incident whic
IS occurred during Jameson's raid in I'll