Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-07-07
CHAPTER ".
opprR EXPERIENCES.

In the period Of dclirinm which fol-
lowed experienced some curious delu-
sion. So powerfully did they impress
me Mt the time that even now csn re-
call them distinctly.
When became alive to the present.
II WAS only to be conscious Of suffering
of sore, wearied body stretched ON
the rack Of fierce fever and consumed
by burning thirst My canvas water
bag was empty. but there was not
strength enough left In me to go and I'LL
it again. Az for the blacks who prowled
about in that dangerous country. they
hardly gave me thought But the
snake that was forever poising itself
above me as if to strike filed mo with
terror which in vxin struggled
against.
There was a mccking assumption Of
superior wisdom or cunning In its look.
Would the end never comef In my hor.
ror to break the spell cried aloud.
But it was human voice that an
swercd
IAN right. Mr. Parker. Why. don't
you know mer You look as IL you'd
seen snake or black fellowl What
do you take me forf''
~ believe you ,are--something M
canny. gaspcd.
The Plittering eyes Of the serpent h.d
changed into the calm. dnrr eyes Of the
sqnatter's y daughter. and her soft. clear
voiceit was one Of her great charms
came from tho place where tho snake
had hissed
She looked fixcdly Mt me through an
opening in the trees with that wonder
fully beautiful face Of hers There was
a certain witchery in her gaze that FMS
cinated. almost began TO think that
she was only the embodiment Of some
spirit of the wood Or some illusion Of
my poor fever stricken Senses or that
by some species Of maYic. the serpent
had been transformed into the woman
for my gaze had never shifted. and the
eyes had always been there. But she
had OWNED the situation at 4 glance.
She came quickly forward till she stood
by my side In second her voice had
undergone n change; her eyes had lost
that quizzing. laughing light. and in
stead there was look OF genuine anx-
iety and kindliness in them; her voice
was womanly, and full Of q quiet. un'
obtrusive sympathy when she spolr.
She had changed from the girl into tht
woman
lyon have had another attack of tbs
fever - she said "Now. ] shan't tron
bic you because know when one ba'
the fever one is best left alone. And
1,.p oh 80 fl.al S.,.
bad III fetch some In half u minute.
And. picking MP the water bag, rhe disap
pcared In what suppose was the dir"c
tiop of the creek. noticed that under
her right arm she carried u light sport
ing rife. In a few minutes she was bacl
again; she held the bag mp TO my lipr
and placed my hat upon my head.
had not missed IL.
Now you have had enough. sh'
protested. when I had taken a few
greedy mouthfuls Lie down for a III
tie longer. and You u be able to 60 q
the camp after q bit III go away am
come back again" And off she went
dozed. and then my scattered sense
began to gather themselves togethe
again into some eemblance Of rational
ity. must have becn asleep some ccn
siderable time. for when ! awoke sb'
sun was low in the heavens and th
atmosphere was plessapter. Twas think
ing that IL was curions thing to dream
about some one coming and filing M
water bag. aud to wake up and find tina
there was indeed water in tho bag
. when. looking round. ! saw Moral
Mack.rsie sitting cp fallen tree. v;tl