Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1896-10-15

IHe SHAKE DlleS lie Hdu huON H. Ou'
boy I've seen that did recover" he
said "and that was from the bite O.
a brown snake, and brown snakes
as bad as a rattler-an Australian
brown snake, that is; a rattler cant
be worse. But this boy was stupid
all his life after; not as quick-witted
as the average, which is not much tc
say. And at times just at the time
of year at which he'd been bitten, the
wound got red again and swelled and
he was stupider than ever Louis had
on a sock; the rattler'd have had to
60 through that he might have spent
bit of his poison there that gives
Louis sort of chance. Does it hurt
you now, Louie ?"
"No, boss, no, not hurt.
The swelling was spreading, going
up the ankle and right up the leg, and
the man began to talk slowly and
painfully.
Il remember" said Jock, going
along a ridge of terrace on a steep
river bank. The river was full OF
sharks, and I met a brown snake com
ing along the ridge towards me.
There wasn't room to turn, and |
couldn't take to the river for the
sharks, and hadn't a gun. But my
pal coming behind had a gun, and he
poked the barrel in between my legs
and blew the brute to ibits. y
as that true, Jock ?" l asked.
MY heaven, d'you think I'd lie at
such time as this ?" with a glance at
Louies face.
Are you getting sleepy, man. he
said then, as Louis did not answer,
he took him under the arm, and sig
mailing me to do the same on the other
side, we kept him moving between US
up and down and round the tent.
From time to time we made him drink
more brandy. He had taken half a
bottle, but it seemed to have no effect
on him.
at stimulates the hearts action,
you know" Jock explained, Just as
the poison goes to stop it; but strych-
mines the best; acts as nerve tonic.
It's a deal to do with the nerves, this
snake bite business.
We heard the little ground owls be-
gin whistling to each other from the
mouths of the squirrel holes away
down in 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 | left
the work to Jock and rigged up pine
torch for a signal light on the pole,
which l took from the wagon. The
job took some. while, but at length |
got the light fairly haring.
Look at his face, Jock whispered
to me as l came back to him.
1t was shocking sight under the
Aickeringlays, swollen, distorted, livid.
The mans arm was swollen, too, as l
felt when I took my place to support
him. His movements were lethargic
and heavy, so that I wondered that
Jock, unaided, could have kept him
moving so long.
Give him more brandy" Jock di-
rected, "more; that's it-he's had
nearly all the bottle. There's a chance, ."
he went on presently; l 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"
Il wish the doctor'd come
Mighty little good wishing. "
The weary tramp went on. Twice
I had to replenish the beacon torch,
and once more we gave the Mexican
a gulp of the brandy, which finished
the bottle. As was fixing the torch
for the third time I heard a shout
down the canon. l answered with all
my might, and in few minutes jim
Kelly and the doctor rode into the
circle of the faring light.
"Alive?" the doctor asked,
Alive, yes, said Jock "alive and
that's about all He can't speak
What have you given him-bran-
dy? That's right. how much?'
"a bottle full"
Right and you've kept him awake?
That's it. He won't die, now. Won
derful fellows, these Greasers. He'd
have died before this if be meant dy-
ing. Let's see the wound
The candle burned as quietly in the
still air as in a room. The Mexican's s
foot was swollen, so that it scarcely
looked ike a human member but in
the midst of the purple swelling was