Sallie Russell 137 



the mists had cleared away, and the hot sun poured 

 down upon his unprotected head, he begged for water 

 to relieve his burning thirst. What a death was 

 his, there in the lonely swamp, with only one living 

 creature near ! His groans and cries became less as 

 his strength decreased, until a convulsive shudder 

 ended a useless life and left his form lying in a half- 

 made grave. And Sallie was left alone. Her strength 

 was growing less ; her trembling knees could scarcely 

 bear the weight of her weakened body. She was 

 immovably fixed to a heavy army wagon, while the 

 galling harness kept her head from reaching the 

 ground where muddy water and poor grass might 

 have helped stay her fast departing life. Thus, in 

 agony, two scorching days and chilling nights passed. 

 The second day was drawing to a close. Away 

 toward the right, as far as the eye could reach, 

 stretched a vast deserted morass, unbroken by even 

 a shrub. A mile away toward the left was the line 

 of woods through which they had come; while all 

 around was desolation. No birds came to this for- 

 saken spot, and God Himself seemed to have deserted 

 it. An oppressive stillness was upon the air ; a hush 



