TRAIL'S END
Standing in the doorway with one leg of his trousers pulled up, was a gray-haired man. Judging from his appearance, he had to be in his mid-fifties. Blood was running down his leg from a wound, just below his knee.
"I've been bit by a Red Fox, and it was frothing at the mouth."
Al was intensely alert, "Where and when?" He asked quickly, looking at the wound on the stranger's leg. It was deep, the bleeding had stopped, but it was undoubtedly the bite of an animal.
"When did this happen?" Al inquired again.
"About an hour ago, down on the river trail. I was headed for the village, when this son-of-a-bitch of a Fox came out of the tall grass and bit me."
"Hold it," Al raised his hand, "I'll get the horse hitched up and get you to a Doctor in the Settlement as fast as I can."
Sarah had slipped into the bedroom and got dressed. When she came out, the stranger was sitting on the steps waiting for Al. Going to the door, she asked the stranger if he wanted a cup of coffee.
"Don't mind if I do Ma'am, I know it's terribly hot but, a cup of coffee would be just fine."
"I noticed that you've got a bad cut on your leg, and it's been bleeding. Do you mind telling me how you got that?" Sarah asked, innocently.
"That's not a cut Ma'am, I just told your husband that I got bit by a Red Fox down river about an hour ago. Your husband is hitching up a horse to take me into the Settlement, to see a Doctor."
"Oh my God," Sarah groaned, as she stood wringing her hands. Looking out of the window, she was relieved to see Al coming toward the house with a horse and wagon.
When Al opened the door and came into the house, he was wringing wet with sweat. Going directly into the bedroom he came out tucking in a shirt.
"Let's go," he called out, as he walked toward the door. The stranger followed him, and they were on their way down the road at a full gallop, while Sarah sat down in a chair and mopped the sweat from her brow.
There was very little conversation between the two men on the way to the Settlement. The horse struck a trot, and kept it up until Al reined him in at the Doctor's Office. White lathery froth showed around the horse's collar and along his sides. Al hitched him under a tree and went to see the Doctor with the stranger.
The Doctor was busy at his desk, as they entered. Looking up, he spoke out.
"What can I do for you Gentlemen?"
"I brought this man in, to have you look at an abrasion he's got on one of his legs." Al explained.
The Doctor motioned for the man to sit down in a chair in front of the desk. "Pull up your pants leg, and let's have a look?" He got up from his chair and bending down took a long hard look at the stranger's injury.
"Abrasion hell," the Doctor's voice rang out. "That's an animal bite, I can make out the teeth marks, and their deep. What in hell bit you, and when?" He fairly shouted at the man.
"A Red Fox bit me, about two and a half hours ago." The man replied.
"Was the Fox rabid, did it have foam around its muzzle?"
"Yes it did," the man answered. "Can you give me something to cool me down, I'm getting hotter than hell."
After removing the thermometer from the man's mouth, the Doctor took it to the window to read it.
"You're running a little temperature now, it's not bad yet but it will be. I'm telling you both flat out, that I'm sorry that I haven't got anything to give you for a cure, simply because there isn't a cure. The scientists in the Medical Profession haven't come up with anything yet, that's a cure for Rabies. I can give you Sedatives that will help keep you calm for awhile but, when they wear off you'll be as nervous as you were before you took them. You see, the Rabies Serum is mixed into your blood, and there's no way of getting rid of it. I'm sorry, but that's the only alternative you have under the circumstances. You should explain to your relatives the situation you're in, and let them take care of you."
The stranger stood up, and turning to face the Doctor he asked, with a pleading look on his face.
"Doc. Be truthful with me, how much time have I got left on this earth?"
"I can't say for sure, but I'll say this, if the weather gets cooler I'd say two weeks maximum."
"How much do I owe you Doc. The stranger asked, reaching in his pocket.
"I'm just charging you for the Sedatives, that's all. Now, keep this in mind, they'll help you to keep calm for a short time then your body will become immune to them, and the Rabies Serum will take over. The price for the Sedative is two dollars, I'm sorry that I can't do more, the best of luck to you." He held out his hand, and the stranger grasp it.
On the way home, Al spoke out. "You know, I feel like an idiot, I never introduced myself or even asked you for your name."
The stranger smiled, "I guess it doesn't matter much I won't be around much longer but, if your curious, my name is Jeb Thompson originally from Alberta Canada. I've been down here in the state of Michigan for years."
"What do you do for a living?" Al asked, turning and looking at the Canadian.
"I cut timber, I was a sawyer in a logging camp in Alberta for a few years, then came down here. A man can make more money here in the States."
"Did you ever run into a man by the name of Curt Madock from Ontario Canada?"
The Canadian thought for a minute, before answering.
"No, can't say that I have, but, I've heard the name mentioned quite often, why?"
"Well, he's my neighbor and friend, been working with him in different camps for a number of years. We're planning on cutting timber in the Upper Peninsula this fall."
"You are, you'll find good timber up there, the only thing is, it's colder then the hubs of hell and there's lots of snow. I know, because I was up there a number of years back."
"Is there any kind of a Settlement up there?"
"Hell no, just a few Indian tribes that's all, their friendly as hell but, they can give you a lot of trouble. The nearest Settlement is about twenty miles or better that is, if your outfit is going to be located somewhere on the Manestique River."
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