THE TURTLER'S STORY. 185 



and disabled, I might render assistance to some 

 sufferer, or even be the means of saving a use- 

 ful life. Buojed up by this thought, I urged 

 my canoe on shore, and seizing it by the bow 

 pulled it at one spring high among the grass. 

 The groans of the unfortunate persons fell heavy 

 on my ear, as I cocked and reprimed my gun, 

 determined to shoot the first who should rise 

 from the grass. As I cautiously proceeded a 

 hand was raised over the reeds, and waved in a 

 most supplicatory manner. I levelled my gun 

 about a foot below it, when the next moment 

 the head and breast of a man were convulsively 

 raised, and a faint hoarse voice asked of me 

 mercy and help ! A deathlike silence followed 

 his fall to the ground. I surveyed every object 

 around, with eyes intent and ears impressible by 

 the slightest sound, for my situation at that mo- 

 ment, I thought as critical as any I had ever 

 been in. The croaking of the frogs and the last 

 blackbirds alighting on their roosts, were the 

 only sounds or sights. I now proceeded towards 

 the object of my mingled alarm and consterna- 

 tion. Alas ! the poor being who lay prostrate 

 at my feet was so weakened by loss of blood 

 that I had nothing to fear from him. 



My first impulse was to run back to the water, 

 and having done so, I returned with my cap 

 filled to the brim. I felt at his heart, washed 



