Man rarely yields up his life without an extreme effort to preserve it.
Despair is a strong feeling, but there are those whose spirit it cannot
prostrate. In later life mine own would not have given way to such
circumstances as surrounded me at that time; but I was then young, and
little experienced in peril.
The paralysis of my thoughts did not continue long. My senses returned
again; and I resolved to make a new effort for the salvation of my life.
I had conceived no plan, further than to endeavour once more to escape
out of the labyrinth of woods and morass in which I had become
entangled, and make as before for the village. I thought I knew the
direction in which it lay, by observing the side at which I had first
entered the glade. But, after all, there was no certainty in this. It
was mere conjecture. I had entered the glade with negligent steps. I
had strayed all around it before lying down to sleep. Perhaps I had
gone around its sides before entering it--for I had been wandering all
the morning.
While these reflections were passing rapidly through my mind, and
despair once more taking possession of my spirits, I all at once
remembered having heard that tobacco is a powerful antidote to
snake-poison. Strange the idea had not occurred to me before. But,
indeed, there was nothing wonderful that it did not, as up to that
moment I had only thought of making my way to Bringiers. With no
reliance upon my own knowledge, I had thought only of a doctor. It was
only when I became apprehensive of not being able to get to _him_, that
I began to think of what resources lay within my reach. I now
remembered the tobacco.
Quick as the thought my cigar-case was in my fingers. To my joy one
cigar still remained, and drawing it out I proceeded to macerate the
tobacco by chewing. This I had heard was the mode of applying it to the
snakebite.
Dry as was my mouth at first, the bitter weed soon supplied me with
saliva, and in a few moments I had reduced the leaves to a pulp, though
nauseated--almost poisoned by the powerful _nicotine_.
I laid the moistened mass upon my wrist, and at the same time rubbed it
forcibly into the wound. I now perceived that my arm was sensibly
swollen--even up to the elbow--and a singular pain began to be felt
throughout its whole length! O God! the poison was spreading, surely
and rapidly spreading! I fancied I could feel it like liquid fire
crawling and filtering through my veins!
Though I had made application of the nicotine, I had but little faith in
it. I had only heard it casually talked of as a remedy. It might,
thought I, be one of the thousand fancies that people love to indulge
in; and I had only used it as a "forlorn hope."
I bound the mass to my wrist--a torn sleeve serving for lint; and then,
turning my face in the direction I intended to take, I started off
afresh.
I had scarce made three strides when my steps were suddenly arrested. I
stopped on observing a man on the edge of the glade, and directly in
front of me.
He had just come out of the underwood, towards which I was advancing,
and, on perceiving me, had suddenly halted--perhaps surprised at the
sight of one of his own kind in such a wild place.
I hailed his appearance with a shout of joy. "A guide!--a deliverer!"
thought I.
What was my astonishment--my chagrin--my indignation--when the man
suddenly turned his back upon me; and, plunging into the bushes,
disappeared from my sight!
I was astounded at this strange conduct. I had just caught a glimpse of
the man's face as he turned away. I had seen that he was a negro, and I
had noticed that he appeared to be frightened. But what was there about
me to terrify him?
I called out to him to stop--to come back. I shouted in tones of
entreaty--of command--of menace. In vain. He made neither stop nor
stay. I heard the branches crackle as he broke through the thicket--
each moment the noise appearing more distant.
It was my only chance for a guide. I must not lose it; and, bracing
myself for a run, I started after him.
If I possess any physical accomplishment in which I have confidence it
is my fleetness of foot. At that time an Indian runner could not have
escaped me, much less a clumsy, long-heeled negro. I knew that if I
could once more got my eyes upon the black, I would soon overhaul him;
but therein lay the difficulty. In my hesitation I had given him a long
start; and he was now out of sight in the depth of the thicket.
But I could hear him breaking through the bushes like a hog; and,
guiding myself by the sound, I kept up the pursuit.
I was already somewhat jaded by my previous exertions; but the
conviction that _my life depended on overtaking the negro_ kindled my
energies afresh, and I ran like a greyhound. Unfortunately it was not a
question of simple speed, else the chase would soon have been brought to
an end. It was in getting through the bushes, and dodging round the
trunks of the trees, that the hindrance lay; and I had many a struggle
among the branches, and many a zigzag turn to make, before I could get
my eyes upon the object I was in pursuit of.
However, I at length succeeded in doing so. The underwood came to an
end. The misshapen cypress trunks alone stood up out of the miry, black
soil; and far off, down one of their dark aisles, I caught sight of the
negro, still running at the top of his speed. Fortunately his garments
were light-coloured, else under the sombre shadow I could not have made
him out. As it was, I had only a glimpse of him, and at a good distance
off.
But I had cleared the thicket, and could run freely. Swiftness had now
everything to do with the race; and in less than five minutes after I
was close upon the heels of the black, and calling to him to halt.
"Stop!" I shouted. "For God's sake, stop!"
No notice was taken of my appeals. The negro did not even turn his
head, but ran on, floundering through the mud.
"Stop!" I repeated, as loudly as my exhausted breath would permit.
"Stop, man! why do you run from me? I mean you no harm."
Neither did this speech produce any effect. No reply was given. If
anything, I fancied that he increased his speed; or rather, perhaps, he
had got through the quagmire, and was running upon firm ground while I
was just entering upon the former.
I fancied that the distance between us was again widening; and began to
fear he might still elude me. I felt that my life was on the result.
Without him to guide me from the forest, I would miserably perish. He
_must_ guide me. Willing or unwilling, I should force him to the
office.
"Stop," I again cried out; "halt, or I fire!"
I had raised my gun. Both barrels were loaded. I had spoken in all
seriousness. I should in reality have fired--not to kill, but to detain
him. The shot might injure him, but I could not help it. I had no
choice--no other means of saving my own life.