Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-06-13
CHAPTER ~.
oppER rxprRrxScra

oDDER ExPKRIKNcKA
In the period Of delirium which fol-
lowed experienced some curious delu.
siona So powerfully did they impress
me at the time that even now can re-
call them distinctly.
When became alive to the present.
10 was only to be conscious of suffering
-of a sore. wearied body stretched on
the rack Of fierce fever and consumed
bya burning thirst My canvas water
bag was empty. but there was not
strength enough left In me 70 90 and 6ll
Il again As 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 filled me with
u terror which In vain ! struggled
against
There was mocking assumption Of
superior wisdom or cunning In its look
Would the end never come, In my hor-
ror TO break the spell l cried aloud
But II was human voice that an
| swered
IAN right. Mr.. Parker. Why. don't
you know met You look rs IL you d
seen snake or black fellow What
do you take me fors''
~ believe you are-something un-
canny." gasped
The giittering eyes Of the serpent had
changed into the calm. dark eyes Of the
squatter's daughter. and her soft. clear
voice-it was one Of her great charms
came from the place where the snake
had hissed
She looked fxedly Ut mo through an
opening in the trees with that wonder.
fully beautiful face of hers There was
a certain witchery in her gaze that fas-
cinated almost began 10 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 magic. 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 glance.
She came quickly forward till she stood
by my side In q second her voice had
undergone a 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 4 quiet. un-
obtrusive sympathy when she spoke
She had changed from tho girl into the
woman.
"You have had another attack Of the
fever. abe said "Now. ] shan't trou-
bic you; because I know when one has
the fever one Is best left alone And
you have no water-oh. too bad. too
bad I'll fetch some In half . minute. "
And. picking up the water bag. she disap-
peared in what ! suppose was the direc-
ton Of the creek noticed that under
her right arm she carried light sport.
ing rife In few minutes she was back
again; she held the bag up to my lips,
and placed my hat upon my head
had not missed il
"Now You have had enough. she
protested. when ! had taken few
greedy mouthfula "Lie down for lit
tie longer. and you'll be able to go TO
the camp after bit III go away and
come back again" And of she went
dozed. and then my scattered senses
began to gather themselves together
again into some semblance Of rational
ity. must have been asleep some con-
siderable time, for when I awoke the
sun was low in the heavens, and the
atmosphere was pleasanter. was think.
ing that il was curious thing TO dream
about some one coming and filing my
water bag. and 70 wake up and find that
there was indeed water in the bag,
when, looking round. saw Norah
Mackenzie sitting on fallen tree, with
her back to me. a few PAGES distant. !
had not moved nor uttered a word. but
she turned the instant ! looked ut her,
and, coming toward me. said;
"You are albright now. ] can see
you are Doyou think you can come TO
the campr You really shouldn't wan
der from it when you feel the fever
coming on It's not safe Just think Of
what occurred the other day. Come
the frank impulsive nature Of the girl
was reasserting itself-'give me your
hands She stretched out both Of hers
and pulled me TO my feet
The attack Of fever had passed !
vas beginning to feel myself again.
Don't tell me that you've been sit
Sng here all this time waiting for mel
I exclaimed. conscience stricken.
She laughed lightly. Remember the
old saying. Ask no questions and
you 'll-sutfer from no perversion Of
the truth. Do you know. Mr.. Parker,
that there's little Of the quack about
me. ! believe can produce cure for
this fever. It's one the blacks used mp
ON the Burdekin-
"I'm skeptical about fever cureA
but IN try yours," I said "But. by
the way. yop must have thought me
awfully stupid few minutes ago. The
fact Is. had curious dream about Q
snake. and the law Of associations q
queer thing"
"You are complimentary with
show Of dignity-''so much so that
1t suggests good deal Of highland su-
perstition- OF course you re limiting At
the highland myth about the princes
who was turned into snake hope
you don't think that I'm Q snake turn
ed into princesf'
"Why preB Q man 90 hardf' ] pro-
tested. with miserable attempt to say
something cheerful I'm the present
case circumstantial evidence seems to
prove that the woman grew out Of the
snake. Anyhow. II I were certain Of
it. I'd never kill another one - long -
lived
She laughed - II she rather enjoyed
the dubious compliment
"And they say . 6cotsman seldom
makes pretty speeches. she exclaimed
'.But wait . minute Here II Mother
Natures cure for tho fever. Strange
int Il. that there = never . nettls
without . docken growing alongside r
We wepe passing small. shrubliks
tree on which grew Z round. yellow
berry. . Httls larger than . cherry.
She stopped and pulled some. putting
them into Z small bag che carried by
hx dda I bit ths sind of one She
watched me taste t. but of I'll the bit
ter tSsteo ever sxpRisuced that was