256 THE FIRE HUNTEK. 



whose suppressed groans, and writhing limbs, gave 

 token of the agony that tortured him. Pompey set 

 down the light, and turning over the fallen man, 

 had no sooner looked into his ghastly face, than he 

 screamed out, "My God! my brother! oh, who 

 has done dis ting ? Tell me, Toney ; as God is me 

 judge, I'll kill urn ! Dat dam Slouch done it, aint 

 he?" 



Toney shook his head. 



" Who den ?" 



The wounded man made signs to Pompey, to 

 raise him up to a sitting posture. His shirt and 

 jacket were soaked in blood, and his hand was 

 pressed upon his breast, which had been pierced by 

 shot. The lung had been wounded, for the blood 

 flowed from his mouth as he essayed to speak, and 

 threatened immediate suffocation. 



" Tell me," said Pompey, as he supported his 

 head on his shoulder, and bathed his face with his 

 tears, that fell like rain ; " how dis cum ? who done 

 this ? who kill my brudder ?" 



Toney pointed to the neighboring plantation. 

 " He done it, but not on purpose !" and with many 

 interruptions, the dying man communicated to his 

 brother, the particulars of his misfortune, which 

 were briefly these: His wife was sick, and he 

 wanted to buy some sugar for her, but the distance 



