Page:The rising son, or, The antecedents and advancement of the colored race (IA risingsonthe00browrich).pdf/43

 and felt h—ll with this old hip!' I injected the morphia as I had done in the previous case, and began to sing a noted Methodist hymn as soon as I had finished. As the medicine took effect, the man went rapidly off into a slumber, from which he did not awake while I was there, for I had given him a double dose.

"I will here remark, that while the morphia will give most instant relief in sciatica, it seldom performs a perfect cure. But in both cases I knew it would serve my purpose. As soon as 'Cap' was safe, I called in his companions, who appeared still more amazed than at first. They held their faces to his to see that he breathed, and would shake their heads and go out. I told them that I should have to remain with the man five or six hours. At this announcement one of the company got furious, and said, 'It's all a trick to save his neck from the halter,' and concluded by saying at the top of his voice, 'Come to the tree, to the tree!' The men all left the room, assembled in the yard, and had a consultation. It was now after eleven o'clock, and as they had a large flask of brandy with them they appeared to keep themselves well-filled, from the manner in which the room kept scented up. At this juncture one of the company, a tall, red-haired man, whose face was completely covered with beard, entered the room, took his seat at the table, drew out of his pocket a revolver, laid it on the table,