Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-04-13

DacK against III WIFI Tue uedQ uoESe
bride. Mckee searched through
Lanes pockets until he found match.
"Last one. hey? Kinder 'propriate.
Las drink from the old canteen. las
cartridge, las look at the scenery an
las will an testyment Oh. times
precious. but III spare you enough to
map out in yer mind jes' where them
claims Is located The rurales won't
be along fer an hour yet II they hain't
turned back after our other party"
Mckee pulled of Lanes boots. 1T
hain't decent fer man to die with 'em
on" he said. BE then kindled fire on
the stone. beneath which. If he but
knew It. lay the treasure he sought
He returned With burning brand to
the captive. For the first time he OBJ
served the snake impaled on the sahu-
aro, writhing still, but feebly. Hello.
ole rattlerw he exclaimed. Here's
somethin' to stir you up" And he toss
ed the brand upon the top Of the cac.
tus.
Taking another burning stick from
the fire, he applied it to the soles Of his
victims feet. Lane writhed and groan
ed under the excruciating torture, but
uttered no word or cry. Mckee brought
other brands and began piling them
about his captive's feet.
In the meantime the sahuaro bad
caught fire at the top and was burning
down through the interior. A thin col
umn Of smoke rose straight above 1t
In the still air. The ruraleS In the val
ley below, who had reached the begin
ming Of the ascending trail and were
on the point Of giving up the pursuit.
saw the smoke and inferred that the
Apaches, either through overcontidence
or because Of their superstltious fear
of the mountains. which they supposed
inhabited by spirits, had camped on
the edge Of the valley and were signal
ing to their other party. Accordingly
the Mexicans renewed the chase with
increased vigor
As Mckee bent over his captive's
feet, piling against them the burning
ends Of the sticks. the rattlesnake on
the sahuaro. melted by the fire above.
struggled free from the impaling
thorns by desperate effort and drop
ped on the back Of the half breed. II
struck Its fangs into his neck. Mckee.
springing up with an energy that seal
tered the sticks he vas pil!ng. tore the
reptile loose. hurled 1t upon the ground
and stamped II into the earth. Thcn
he picked up one OF the brands and
with II cauteriZed the wound. All the
While he was cursing volubly--the
snake. himself and even Dick Lane.
who was now lying in dead faint
caused by the torture.
Curse such prospector! Not Il crop
Of whisky in his outfit! I'd slit his
tongue fer him If he wasn't already
done fer. | must keep moyin. movlu'.
along to the mountains, lcaGiu' IL!
horse. Up there I'll find YARDS to cur2
snake bite that my Cherokee graEl
mother showed me. The rurales will
have to get the other ponies, but souIe
day III come back after Lanes cache"
A half hour later the Mexican guar IS
upon the scene and unbpund
Lanes unconscious form from the Sa
huaro. which the fire had consumed 10
within u foot Of his bowed head The;
deiuged his face and back ard bathed
his tortured feet with the contents Of
their canteens and brought him back
TO life, but, alas, not 10 reason.
Six months later there limpcd out of
Chihuahua hospital a discharged pa
tient. wry necked. crock backed with
drawn features and hair and beard
streaked with gray. 1t was Dick Lane
restored to his old physical strength. 50
far as the distortion Of his spine
caused by his torture permitted. AID
to the full possession Of his mental
faculties. lie mounted one of the cap
tured ponies and rode of with the
proceeds of the sales of the others in
his pocket to purchase provisions for n
raturp IN his prnSnnctino