HEROES OF THE LONE STAR STATE.

911

that the manuscript is in my saddle-bags. Give it to the world with all its imperfections !'

"' Hold on just one minute longer,' giving the rattles a vicious shake, ' and you will be all right.'

" ' Not another second,' he cried, ' it's no use talking. I may as well die one way as another,' and he made a desperate bound from under the blanket, and pitched head foremost on the ground, ten to twelve paces off.

"I seized a bottle of 'Chili peppersauce,' and ran to where he was lying. ' Here, Mr. Author,' I said, ' drink this quick !' He took it, and in the hurry and excitement of the moment hastily swallowed about a pint of the contents.

"'Gracious!' said I, 'you have made a wonderful escape.'

"' I do n't know so well about that,' said he, sputtering and gasping for breath.   'I'm afraid I'm bit,'

"'Do you feel,' I asked, 'as if you were up to your waist in melted lead?'

"' Not exactly,' he replied, drawing his breath through his teeth; 'but I feel as if I had swallowed a quart or so of it.'

"' Then,' said I, ' you are all safe, and you have made the most wonderful escape on record. No one befoi-e has ever missed being bit who sprang off, as you did, before the snake had coiled himself up. A most extraordinary escape truly.'"

Notwithstanding these pranks, when the real fight with the Indians came on the author quite won the respect of the men by his bravery, even if he did little execution.

Big Foot Wallace was a member of the Mier expedition, being taken prisoner at the same time that Nelson Lee escaped from Mier. His sufferings in prison were great. He participated in a bold escape, but after several days of wandering in the wilderness, during which time he and his companions nearly died from thirst and starvation, they were recaptured by the Mexicans. He took part in drawing lots to determine which of their number should be executed, but luckily drew a white bean,

TVl-tfltfl!!