Page:The rising son, or, The antecedents and advancement of the colored race (IA risingsonthe00browrich).pdf/39

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not hear, except one of them saying,—'Lawrence don't want a nigger hung so near his place.' They started again; I was on foot, a rope had been attached to my arms, and the other end to one of the horses. I had to hasten my steps to keep from being dragged along by the animal. Soon they turned to the right, and followed up what appeared to be a cow-path.

"While on this road my hat fell off, and I called out to the man behind and said, 'I've lost my hat.'

"'You'll need no hat in half an hour's time,' he replied. As we were passing a log house on this road, a man came out and said, in a trembling voice, 'Jim's dying!' All the men now dismounted, and, with the exception of two, they went into the building. I distinctly heard the cries, groans, and ravings of the sick man, which satisfied me at once that it was an extreme case of delirium tremens; and as I treated the malady successfully by the hypodermic remedy, and having with me the little instrument, the thought flashed upon my mind that I might save my life by the trial. Consequently, I said to one of the men,—'I know what's the matter with that man, and I can relieve him in ten minutes.'

One of the men went into the house, related what I had said, and the company came out. The leader, whom they all addressed as 'Cap,' began to question me with regard to my skill in such complaints. He soon became satisfied, untied me, and we entered the