The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-11-02

than lie there helpless. gasping for
breath, scarce conscious even of my
deliverance Then, as sufficient
strength returned for action. Il rolled
the body of the dead brute off me.
and lifting myself by aid Of the wall
against which my head rested, looked
about. Two broken chairs overturned
upon the floor, and the shapeless,
huddled body of my late assailant.
alone spoke of the, violence OF that
deadly struggle; but the cabin was
yet full of smoke, and could per-
ceive the figure of the girl leaning
against the frame of the open door,
the revolver still graspeC in her hand.
Her posture was that of frightened
deer, as Der terror-filled eyes sought
the dark interior.
1T is safely over,' said weakly.
for my breath yet came to me In
CSsps THE brute is dead" ~
i could scarcely mark her coming
across the narrow streak, Of moon
light, moving toward me as fright
ened bird might. startled at every
thing. and. passing as far from the
lifeless mass on the floor as.the small
space would allow. AS she bent
anxiously over me her face was So N
shadow that l could distinguish moth
ing of its features. ~ +s4
What Is it? Are you indeed severe
ly hurt? 2" 4f
mot seriously, | think, yet ! have
lost some blood, and am in great pain
There is brandy in the inner pocket
of my Jacket. but l. am unable to
move MY arm in order to reach 1t.
Would you endeavor to draw the flask
out?''
felt her bend over me, her soft
breath coming almost in sobs upon my
lace, as with trembling fingers she
undid the buttons Of my troopers
jacket and extracted the small nat
flask l had been thoughtful enough
to store away there, Y ~.
/ The fiery liquid seemed to put new
blood into my veins. and with II there
returned all my old,time audacity..
with that intense hopefulness. in which,
| had been trained by years of war
and self-reliance. .as eA
/ 81 trust you realizer".l saidi that
| am neither thoughtless nor migrate
full Years of war service. make one
careless of life. but ! know 1t was
your shot that. saved me-. You are "a
brave girl" , ~
Her overtaxed nerves. gave way at
my words, and ! knew she was crying
softly. The sobbing was in her voice
as she. stroye to speak.
"Oh, no. j am not; you do not
guess how great a coward Il am.
scarcely knew what.I was dong when
| fired. That -horrid thing-what was
it?" a . y.
"a huge mastiff. i imagine; one of
the largest of . his breed. But what
ever 1t may have been, the, beast
is. dead, and we have nothing more
to fear from him. $3.50
"Yet / tremble so.''. she confessed,
almost Historically. Every shadow
frightens me-"
L realized that no amount Of corr
versation would quiet her nerves so
effectively,as some positive action; be-
sides, felt the hot blood constantly
trickling down my arm, and realized
that something needed. K be done at
once to stanch' its flow, before. weak;
ness should render me equally useless.
aDo you think you could build a
fire on. the hearth yonder?" ] asked.
Il am afraid | am hardly capable of
helping you as, yet; but we. must
have light in this gloomy old hole.
or it is bound to craze. us both, Take
those broken chairs if you find moth
ing better"
She instantly did as ] babe her,
moving here and, there about the. room
until she gathered together. the ma
terials necessary, but Keeping care
fully away from where. the dead dog
Law until in a brief space Of time the
welcome flame leaped UP in the wide
black chimney, and cast its red glare
ali over the little room The, activity
did her good. the light flooding the
gloomy apartment yielded renewed
courage, and there was a cheerier
sound in her voice as she came back
| to me.