Year: 1860

suppose me safe with the other.


My axe, in its fall, rested upon the snow
crust about ten feet Off If | could only
get that | might yet save myself ! did
not think how I was to cut myse loose
from the body of that great tree, suspended
as ! was, head down, and suffering from
the rush of disordered blood but thought
in that keen blade my only hope of life
fixed. Just forward of me grew slim
bush, which thought, if could obtain,
could form into hook by twisting the
limbs together, and draw the axe within
my reach.


Although the bush was out of my reach,
l at last succeeded in getting hold Of it by
means of a loop which made by tying my
suspenders together. | then drew il tow
ards me and cut it OFF with my pocket-knife
one of that sort known as "Barlow
knives" having a single blade about two
and half inches long and three-eights of
an inch vide, with equal width all its
length, set in handle of peculiar form,
half its length iron and half horn or bone.
] succeeded admirably in fashioning my
hook, and almost felt the handle of the axe
within my grasp, so certain was l of sue
cess. From the tree that imprisoned nae
the ground descended rapidly for dozen
rods or more to q little creek. My axe lay
upon the brow of the Hill. The first move
ment made towards twisting the loop Of
my stick around the handle of the axe, so
as to draw it within my reach, loosened it
from its icy rest and away it went down
the hill, crushing through the little frost
bitten bushes down upon the ice of the
creek, to a little fall of few rods below,
and over that into an unfrozen pool, with
gurgling sound as it fell into the water that
seemed TO send an icy chill through every
vein and artery Of my whole body.


/ still had my knife. True, it was a
rough surgical instrument, but hope and
love of life gave me strength to climb up
by my fastened leg and cut away the boot
and stocking, and then with that knife |
unjointed my ankle and fell to the ground
my left leg footless, bleeding stump.
The intensity of the cold saved me from
bleeding to death. / tore off part of my
coat, and with my handkerchief and sus-
penders managed to bind my leg with a
handful of snow, and started TO crawl home.
I succeeded in getting within sight of the
house, and then strength utterly failed me.
l tried my voice in vain, but could
make no one hear. I exerted myself once
more, and crawled towards the road that i
knew Heman must come. 1t was pain
full task, for besides my exhaustion from
loss of blood, ] was perishing with cold.
Just then ! heard my brothers stage horn,
and the jingle of the bells coming down
the hill. strained my voice to the ut
most pitch, but he did not, could not hear !;
but there was another friend-who did
hear. Old Hunter, the noble dog, had in
sisted on accompanying this trip, and broth
er said "Let him go; who knows what good
may come of it? Good did come of it.
for his ear was quicker than Heman's, and
he reused up at the first cry, and as the
second reached his ear, he leaped out, and
in a minute was at the spot where ] lay
upon the snow. He smelled all arouud,
and held up my footless leg. Just then
the sleigh had got up the hill. Hunter
sprang back into the path, barked loudly,
and as the horses came up he jumped up,
seized the reins, and would not let go till
IIeman called halt. Hunter let go his
hold on the horses, jumped back to the
sleigh, caught hold of Heman's hand, pull
ing off the mitten, and away he ran back
where / was, and commenced barking furi-
ously; but / heard nothing. The effect
upon me when knew that | was discover
ed by that faithful old dog, and that he
never would desert me, caused me to faint.
NV brother knew that Hunter was not at
play-that something serious was the mat
ter-and he jumped out of the sleigh, and
ran after him.


In a little time was safe at home the
doctor sent for, and my wound properly
dressed. eventually recovered, but was,
however, cripple for life.