The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-11-28
Il, her eucstement she fired reckless9s.

In her excitement she fired recklessqN.
"Good Lawd!w was all the old woza-
an could say, but she obeyed her mis-
tress.
'It was easier than it looked, your
highness," murmured Baldos. 'Luck
was with me. The knife went to his
heart. I am merely scratched. His
leap was Short but he caught me
above the knee with his claws. Alas,
your highness, these trousers Of mine
were bad enough before, but now they
are In shreds. What patching l shall
have to do! And you may we'll imagine
we are short of thread and needles and
thimbles"
''Don't jest, for heavens sake! Don't
talk like that. Here! Lie down upon
these cushions and''-
'sNever! Desecrate the couch OF
Graustark's ruler? I, the poor goat
hunter? I'll use the lion for pillow
and the rock for an operating table.
In ten minutes my men can have these
scratches dressed and bound-in fact,
there is a surgical student among them,
Door fellow. 1 think am his first pa
tient. Ravone, attend me-"
He threw himself upon the ground
and calmly placed his head upon the
body of the animal.
81 insist upon your taking these
cushions" cried Beverly.
"And I decline irreyocably." She
stared at him in positive anger. 'Trust
Ravone to dress these tri1ing wounds
your highness. He may not be as
gentle, but he is as firm as an priD-
cess in all the world.
"But your arm?' she cried. Didn't
you say it was your legs? Your arm IS
covered with blood too. Oh, dear me,
I'm afraid you are frightfully wound
ed"
"a stray bullet from one Of my men
struck me there, I think. Hou know
there was but little time for aiming
! Wait. Let ne think minute.
Good heavens. she exclaimed. with
start. Her eyes were suddenly filed
with tears, and there was q break IN
her voice. 81 shot you! Don't deny 1t
don't! 1t is the right arm, and your
men could not have hit it from where
they stood. Oh, oh, oh!'
Baldos smiled as he barred his arm.
''Your aim was good" he admitted.
.'Had not my knife already been In the
lions heart your bullet would have
gone there. It is my misfortune that
my arm was in the way. Besides, your
highness, it has only cut through the
skin, and a little below, perhaps. It
will be we'll in day or two. I am
sure you will find your bullet in the
carcass Of our lamented friend, the
probable owner Of this place."
Ravone, a hungry looking youth, took
charge Of the wounded leader, while
her highness retreated to the farthest
corner Of the cavern. There she sat
and trembled while the wounds were
being dressed. Aunt Fanny BUSTED
back and forth, first unceremoniously
pushing her way through the circle Of
men to take observations and then re-
porting to the impatient girl. The
storm had passed, and the night was
still except fer the rush Of the river.
Raindrops fell now and then from the
trees, glistening like diamonds as they
touched the light from the cavern's
mouth. It was all very dreary, uncan-
ny and oppressive to poor Beverly. Now
and then she caught herself sobbing,
more out Of shame and humiliation
than in sadness, for had she not shot
the man who stepped between her and
death? What must he think of her?
"He says yo' all d bettah go to bald,
Miss Bev-yo' highness," said Aunt
Fanny after one Of her trips.
"Oh, he does, does hep shifted Bev-
erly. 'T'll go to bed when please.
Tell him so. No, no-dont do it, Aunt
Fanny! Tell him I'll go to bed when
I'm sure he is quite comfortable. not
before"
"But he's ies' goat puncheh er az
ne > udu, IL LuSlC CfOA WttS oASs
Don't let me hear you call him goat
puncher again. How are his legs"
Aunt Fanny was almost stunned by
this amazing question from her ever
decorous ruistress. why don't you
answer? Will they have to be cut of?
Didn't you see them?
"Fo' de Lawd's sake, missy, co'se
All cid, but yo' ali kindeh susprise me.
Dey's petty bad skun up, missy; de
hides peeled up consid'ble. But hit
uin' dang'ous, no. ma'am-jes' skun;
ats all
And his ar1n-where shot him."
"ooufec1y trih:n', ma'a1n-yo, high
ness. Cobwebs d stop de bleedin', an
All tole 'em so. but at felleh couldn'
un'stan' me. AIisteh What's-his-name.
he says somethin' to de docteh, an den
dey goes afteh de cobwebs, suah
'nough. Tain hlacdin' no mo-, missy
He's mostes neah doir' ve'y fine. Cose
ne cain walk 20 sev'l days wiz dem
)oic-c n hiS'n hut