The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-02-02

wound got red again and swelled. and
I he was stupider than ever. Louie had
on sock; the rattler'd have had to
go through that; he might have spent
bit Of his poison there; that gives
Louie sort of a 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 pain
fully.
III remember" said Jock, s'going
along ridge of terrace on steep
river bank. The river was full Of
sharks, and met brown snake COM
ing along the ridge towards me.
There wasn't room to turn, and l
couldn't take to the river, for the
sharks, and I hadn't gun. But my
pal coming behind had a gun, and he
poked the barrel in between my legs
and blew the brute to bits.
"Is that true, Jock?' I asked.
"My heaven, d'you think I'd lie at
such time as this?' with glance at
Louie face.
care you getting sleepy, man, he
said J; then, as Louie did not answer,
he took him under the arm. Signal
ing me to do the same on the other
side; we kept him moving betweea 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.
'sIt stimulates the hearts action,
you know" Jock explained, "just as
the poison goes to stop it.; but strych-
nine's the best, acts as nerve tonic.
It's 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 1 left
the work to Jock, and rigged up pine
torch for signal light on the pole
which / took from the wagon. The
job took some while, but at length l
got the light fairly aaring.
"Look at his face, Jock whispered
to nae as came back to him.
It was shocking sight under the
Pickering rays. swollen, distorted,
livid. The mans arm was swollen,
too, as I felt when [ took my place to
support him. His movements we're
lcthargic and heavy, so that I wonder
ed that Jock, unaided, could have
kept him moving so long.
"Give him more brandy Jock
directed, "more that's it-he's had
nearly all the bottle. There's a
chance" he went on presently; 81
really believe there is. l thought
he'd have been dead before now.
Maybe he don mean dying after all.
A white man d have been dead half an
hour ago"
II wish the doctord come. y
Mighty little good wishing
The weary tramp went on. Twice [
had to replenish the beacon-torch,
and once more we gave the Mexican a
I! gulp of the brandy, which finished the
bottle. AS / was fixing the torch for
the third time, | heard shout down
the canyon. I answered with all my
might, and in few minutes Jim
Kelly and the doctor rode into the
circle of the Aaripg light.
''Alive?' the doctor asked.
"Aliye, yes said Jock: "alive,
aad that's about all. He can't
speak. -
s'What have you given him-bran
dy? That's right. How much p
"A bottleful.
"Right and you've kept him awake?
That it. He won't die now. Won
derful fellows, these Greasers. He'd
have died before this if he meant dy-
ing. Let's see the wound.
The candle burned as quietly in the
still air as in room. The Mexican s
foot was swollen so that it scarcely
looked like human member but in
the midst of the purple swelling was
white circle with the little blue
mark. plainly evident, for it's 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.
"It'x blamed strange" he added,