Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/330

 on the soft grass. Returning quickly to Elisha's assistance,—"I'll be doggoned, if they don't have northers here," froze on his lips as he looked at the still form at his feet; for his practiced eye told him that no human help could avail here. However, this was no place for examination, so Elisha, too, was carried to a place beside the girls.

To any one but this Texan, the scene would have been appalling. The creek, which so short a time before had rolled peacefully on, now dashed madly over the rocks, impelled onward by an irresistible force. Giant trees bent almost double and the air was filled with flying branches. The noise was frightful. All nature seemed bent on destruction. Watson calmly applied restoratives and guarded his charges from new danger. The girls, he knew, would recover as they now showed signs of returning consciousness; and, though he could discover no outward sign of injury on Elisha's person, his heart had ceased to beat. Stimulants, artificial respiration were employed, but all to no purpose.