ice Gordon's
letter, and that when the half-caste woman came into the room and gently
asserted her claim, as it were, to supreme authority in this situation,
the fear seemed to be allayed.

Joseph, with something bright glistening in his keen, quick eyes, stood
watching his face as if for a verdict.

"You are tired," she said, "after your long journey."

Then she turned to Joseph with that soft, natural way which seems to run
through the negro blood, however much it may be diluted.

"Help Mr. Meredith," she said, "to Mr. Gordon's room. I will go at once
and see that the bed is prepared."

CHAPTER XXVIII. A SLOW RECOVERY

We dare not let our tears flow, lest, in truth,
They fall upon our work which must be done.

"They was just in time," said Joseph pleasantly to Marie that same
evening, when Jack Meredith had been made comfortable for the night, and
there was time to spare for supper.

"Ah!" replied the woman, who was busy with the supper-table.

Joseph glanced at her keenly. The exclamation not only displayed a due
interest, but contained many questions. He stretched out his legs and
wagged his head sapiently.

"And no mistake!" he said. "They timed it almost to the minute. We had
sort of beaten them back for the time bein'. Mr. Meredith had woke up
sudden, as I told you, and came into the thick of the melee, as we say
in the service. Then we heard the firin' in the distance and the 'splat'
of Mr. Oscard's Express rifle. I just turns, like this 'ere, my head
over me shoulder, quite confidential, and I says, 'Good Lord, I thank
yer.' I'm no hand at tracts and Bible-readin's, but I'm not such a
blamed fool, Mistress Marie, as to think that this 'ere rum-go of a
world made itself. No, not quite. So I just put in a word, quiet-like,
to the Creator."

Marie was setting before him such luxuries as she could command. She
nodded encouragingly.

"Go on," she said. "Tell me!"

"Cheddar cheese," he said parenthetically, with an appreciative sniff.
"Hav'n't seen a bit o' that for a long time! Well, then, up comes Mr.
Oscard as cool as a cowcumber, and Mr. Meredith he gives a sort of
little laugh and says, 'Open that gate.' Quite quiet, yer know. No high
falutin' and potry and that. A few minutes before he had been fightin'
and cussin' and shoutin', just like any Johnny in the ranks. Then he
calms down and wipes the blood off'n his hand on the side of his pants,
and says, 'Open that gate.' That's