THE PAGAN CHILD. 69
dust; and across his writhing body two men strode,
and caught her ere she fell,
"She has only fainted," said Mr, McClosky,
" Jinny dear, my girl, speak to me I"
" What is this on her dress?" said Ridgeway,
kneeling beside her, and lifting his set and colourless
face. At the sound of his voice, the colour came
faintly back to her cheek: she opened her eyes, and
smiled,
" It's only your blood, dear boy," she said; " but
look a little deeper, and you'll find my own."
She put up her two yearning hands, and drew
his face and lips down to her own. When Ridgeway
raised his head again, her eyes were closed; but
her mouth still smiled as with the memory of a
kiss.
They bore her to the house, still breathing, but
unconscious. That night the road was filled with
clattering horsemen; and the summoned skill of
the countryside for leagues away, gathered at her
couch. The wound, they said, was not essentially
dangerous; but they had grave fears of the shock
to a system that already seemed suffering from some
strange and unaccountable nervous exhaustion. The
best medical skill of Tuolumne happened to be
young and observing, and waited patiently an
opportunity to account for it. He was presently
rewarded.
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