New-York tribune., 1908-07-26
Uncle Tom Andy Bill
C0rrrls1 from page 10

M p1gy 10
because they feared they would betray the secret
of the swamp to the lawyers. They'll bury me alive
in the quag1nire; but l don't care if they do. L
want to die can't live here as the slave OF these
murderous thieves day longer
80 You shall not stay herei You shall go with
me- | answered, graspng her hand
You re crazy! she replied, snatch1ng her hand
from and unhitching the horse. She threw the
rein over the horses head and came back to me
Here, take my foot and give me a lift she said.
holding up her foot | lifted her to the horse and,
grasping her by the hand. sprang up behind her:
then she turned the horses head, and soon
tered the swamp.
THE night was frightfully dark and rain was fall
ing in a heavy drizzle. Ten minutes after
entered the swamp the girl suddenly drew rein and
realized that it sinking. For the last few steps
had not heard the splash of the horses hoofs in
the water, and the awful truth flashed across my
mind that the girl had missed the path.
Good Lordl she exclaimed in voice of hOr
ror we're on the edge of the quagmire! Fall OF
the horse! Don't Jump off! Fall on your side or
your back, and don't try to stand on your feet,
or YOU II be lost You'll sink in the mudl
She fell off the horse and | followed her lead
Do l do she said. and l watched her very
closely, you may be She lay full length IN the
mud, and began rolling toward the path. Instinct
prompted me to try TO get on my feet, but one effort
satisfied me | thought | gone. | immediately
lay down again my back IN the mud. and with
great difficulty eXtriCated my feet. When | had
done so | began to roll toward the girl. Twice |
thought l should have TO abandon my bag OF gold
sink; but | clung to it, and after rolling over
three four times, | felt the strong grasp of this
wonderful girls hand.
Stand up! she said You are safe
Il rose and stood knee deep IN mud, though my
feet were the solid ground.
" Here is the path, she said, leading me toward 1t.
80 Let us try to save the horse. l said
80 No power earth him, she n
swered. Poor fellow But lets not stay 70 see
his struggles Come on!'
She climbed to the path, and continued our
awful journey foot As walked along. she
took my hand and said, laughing softly:
You chung to the gold. l believe YOU would
have gone down rather than lose it
49, No, | clung to 1t because l knew l could save
it, | answered
Its not worth life she returned though
some lives not worth very much. Mine isn't
II be with the horse in the quagmre before Sun-up
II save The Wolves the trouble of throwing me
in. When | see that you're safe, I'll go back and
jump in
You shall go with met answered
No. no. she replied You don't know what
YOU are saving. You don't know the evil YOU would
bring on yourself and your folks. Besides don't
fear death | want to die | once heard a man
say there place across the ocean where people
took mud baths for rheumatism. Well YOU see |
have the rheumatism. and | want to cure It She
laughed softly. dropped my hand and took nv
arm Her laughter in the face of death fascinated
me, and could hardly speak. | had never before
known a human heart of that quality.
e. was covered with mud and she too was plas-
tered from head TO heels
''' If anyone was to see us now. she said, again