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Show 288 tmvcl afoot yet a while; we an't much more than two miles from our stopping~placc. n the road hadn't been so rough last ni(rht we could have outrun 'em entirely." As ~be' party neared the fence, they diocovcrcd in the distance, along the road, their own wngon coming ba.ck, accompanied by some men on horseback. "·wen, now, there's Michael, and Stephen, and A.mariah/' exclaimed Phineas, joyfully. "Now we are made,- as safe as if we'd got there.'' " Well, do stop, then," sn.id Eliza, "and do something for that poor man; he's groaning dreadfully." "It would be no more than Christian," said George; "let 's take him up and carry him on." "And doctor him up among tho Quakers! " said Phineas; "pretty well, that! Well, I don't care if we do. Ilore, let's ha.vc a look at him ; " and Phineas, who, in the course of his hunting and backwoods life, had acquired some rude experience of surgery, kneeled down by the wounded man, and began a. careful examination of hls condition. '' Marks,'' said Tom, feebly, 11 is that you, Marks 1 '' "No; I reckon 'tan't, friend," said Phineas. '' Much Marks cares for thee, if his own skin's safe. Ho 's off, long ago.'' "I believe I'm done for," said Tom. " The cussed sneaking dog, to leave me to die alone! My poor old motl1cr always told me 't would be so." " La sakes ! jist hear tho poor crittur. He 's got a mammy, now," said the old ncgrcss. "I can't help kinder pityin' on him." " Softly, softly; don't thee snap and snarl, friend," sa.id Phineas, as Tom winced and pushed his hand a. way. " '~bee has no chance, unless I stop the bleeding." And Phmeas LIFE AMONG THE LOWLY. 289 busied himself '"·ith making some off-hand surgical arrangements with his own pocket-handkerchief, and such ns could be mustered in the company. n You pushed me down there," said Tom, faintly. "'Yell, if I hadn't, thee would have pushed us down, thee sees," said Phineas, as he stooped to apply his bandage. '' ~,here, thcre,-let me fix this bandage. "'\V e mean well to thee; wo bear no malice. Thee shall be taken to a house where they'll nurse thee first rate,- as well as thy own mother could." Tom gromcd, and shut his eyes. In men of his class, vigor and resolution are entirely a physical matter, and ooze out with tho flowing of the blood ; and the gigantic fellow really locked piteous in his helplessness. '!'he other party now came up. Tho seats were taken out of the wagon. Tho buffalo-skins, doubled in fours, were spread all along one side, and four men, with great difficulty, lifted the heavy form of Tom into it. Before he was gotten in, he fainted entirely. The old negress, in the abundance of her compassion, sat down on the bottom, and took his head in her lap. Eliza, George and Jim, bestowed themselves, as well as they could, in the remaining space, and the whole party set forward. " What do you think of him? " said George, who sat by Phineas in front. "Well, it 's only a pretty deep flesh-wound; but, then, tumbling and scratching down that place didn' t help him much. It has bled pretty freely,- pretty much dreaned him out, courage and all,- but ho '11 get over it, and may bo learn a thing or two by it." '' I'm glad to hear you say so," said George. "It would 25 |