Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-04-22

physician. l had water enough TO last
us another day or, for myself alone,
two days. l almost wished / had not
happened upon the slave now, for it
might be that my own life would be
sacrificed in this deed of charity. Then
| drove the selfish thought from my
heart If one perished, we should both
perish He had been a godsend, giving
me companionship, and how did / not
know that he had not saved me from
something worse than death-from
madness. With brotherly care divided
the water drop by drop-water more
precious than blood. The slave was
gratcful-pitlfully so at what he per-
ceived to be my sacrifice. When he
saw that l was going to pieces, how
ever, he not only refused to lap up
these precious drops of salvation, but
actually thrust out his arms to me
with the offer of his own blood to
save MS This touched me very deep
ly. had opened my canteen and saved
his life for little while, and now he
was ready to open his veins to save
mine!
"On the morning of the second day
I gave up hope, and began O rambling
letter to my friends in case they should
ever find me- Even this little exertion
overcame ne; and after a few scrawls
I gave up the task Hours of complete
Inconsistencies in the broil of the
sun came oftener now. Again the
slave lads long suffering on the desert
served him WELL realized that he
would survive me by day, or perhaps
more l gave him my effects. weapons
and all, making him understand that
in case my friends came my belongings
were to be turned over to them, and
that the slave himself should be re-
wardcd. Then 1 sank in my dust bed
falling into sort of coma.
Il was aroused by the crack Of a
rifle The lad had used my weapon
we'll bringing down small antelope
with a single shot. Tco wcrak to rise, |
turned my head and watched the boy
crawl over to his prize. After what
seemed to be the struggle of his life,
he dragged the deer toward ms. Then
closed my eyes with prayer OF
thankfulness, ard soon felt the warm
blood of the gaZelle, dropping from
the bullet wound on its breast, bathing
my swollen lips. The effect was magi-
cal, revivcd-I lived again! The slave
was now saving my life even as l had
saved his. The gratitude he showed
gave me renewed courage.
But, strange as it may seem, the
happy incident of the shooting of the
young deer exercised rather depres-
sing than hcp:ful influence upon the
f=sss,rits> 81 iifs ;-!s The
poor little lad refused to partake OF
the saving grace which he had vouch-
safed me. Hourly he grew weaker. De-
| lirium followed, and l was compelled
to use my poor strength to force the
raw food into his mouth, and all to nc
purpose. Can any one realize how my
heart was now pricked by a conscious
ness of the heroism Of this Nubian
slave during these. terrible hours Ah.
THE vigil was long and bitter-t through 1
NUbia kTrt..- sr.Its- -77i-7
desolation encompassing US on every
hand. the prowlng jackals and the
starving tigers calling fiercely to one
another at the smell of blood, only
awaiting my sinking into sleep TO
p,ungc into the carnival which should
ard all for me. In order to rob the
night Of its terrors and the day OF It's
madness. | strove with my poor pa
tient who was fast ebbing into the
last slumber, with none to succor, none
to restore. felt that with him gone
T should lose all hope, all wish to live.
We seemed like the last two surviving
human beings of earth, and / chose
that he, the child of Nubian darkness
and 1, the son of Western day. might
go hand in hand together
"On that last day of my desolate
watch the sun was sinking over the
Gmi,less sand ocean, and thought
to SO, it no more: | tried to pray. An
what had all these bitter days been
but one living, blood sweating prayer
ono cry borne up as from the pits OIL
desnest Tophet into the responselcss
heaven! became prophetic now. lhe
mast seemed to become clear and un-
clouded the future transparent anu
H,1ed with loveliest visions. l knew
This to be the beginning of the end,
and so sank back resignedly, even
welcoming now the cup | had so long
shrank from with weak and waning
terror-the blessed hemlock of obliv-
ion.
suddenly, along the borders OF the
afterrlow On the horizon, saw a
dark object stealing up like phan-
tom bathed in the glory of celestial
: twilight The sight was so supernatural
that it stirred me strangely; but
coon parceived that it was no phantom
f Of nv wasting mind. but a reality
3 blessed truth. Soon that moving OBJ
: iect took the proportions of serpsn
I moving toward NEON, on, SLOWLY
. solemnly like penitents procession
4 toward a pagan temple; and then real
S izine at last l moaned aloud, 1t IS TN
S caravan! Thank God, 1t is the cara
d van!' and so sank back unconscious.
S when l revived long AFTER tner
n was the cool mouth of a flask presse
d 10 nv lips and strong, tender arm
y were about me. opened my eyes
Comrades was all could murmur
n but they heard it and there was
: shout of triumph.
= my God! We thought you dea
y long, long ago. l heard them CT
: brokenly. What could have saved MI
n till now? 1t is a miracle miracle:
n 81 tried to speak, but there was n
le breath within to give my heart utte
e ancs. I turned and drew the burnous
it from the brow of the still figure
'e nv side Save him. l cried, thoue
re 49,, ,,o;Ga foil in q whisper. Save hin