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"The room was darkening to his sight; the world was narrowing

around him. I glanced about me, and saw that the hay and straw

were trampled over the floor, as if there had been a struggle.

"'She heard me, and ran in. I told her not to come near us till

he was dead. He came in and first tossed me some pieces of money;

then struck at me with a whip. But I, though a common dog, so

struck at him as to make him draw. Let him break into as many

pieces as he will, the sword that he stained with my common

blood; he drew to defend himself--thrust at me with all his skill

for his life.'

"My glance had fallen, but a few moments before, on the fragments

of a broken sword, lying among the hay. That weapon was a

gentleman's. In another place, lay an old sword that seemed to

have been a soldier's.

"'Now, lift me up, Doctor; lift me up. Where is he?'

"'He is not here,' I said, supporting the boy, and thinking that

he referred to the brother.