swathed in white bandages; the doctor in shirt sleeves,
on one knee beside a figure of a man stretched out beside him.

Garnett turned a white face to her.

"Where is my husband?"

The other did not reply, but stepped aside and Hilma saw the dead body
of her husband lying upon the bed. She did not cry out. She said no
word. She went to the bed, and sitting upon it, took Annixter's head
in her lap, holding it gently between her hands. Thereafter she did
not move, but sat holding her dead husband's head in her lap, looking
vaguely about from face to face of those in the room, while, without
a sob, without a cry, the great tears filled her wide-opened eyes and
rolled slowly down upon her cheeks.

On hearing that his wife was outside, Magnus came quickly forward. She
threw herself into his arms.

"Tell me, tell me," she cried, "is Harran--is----"

"We don't know yet," he answered. "Oh, Annie----"

Then suddenly the Governor checked himself. He, the indomitable, could
not break down now.

"The doctor is with him," he said; "we are doing all we can. Try and be
brave, Annie. There is always hope. This is a terrible day's work. God
forgive us all."

She pressed forward, but he held her back.

"No, don't see him now. Go into the next room. Garnett, take care of
her."

But she would not be denied. She pushed by Magnus, and, breaking
through the group that surrounded her son, sank on her knees beside him,
moaning, in compassion and terror.

Harran lay straight and rigid upon the floor, his head propped by a
pillow, his coat that had been taken off spread over his chest. One leg
of his trousers was soaked through and through with blood. His eyes were
half-closed, and with the regularity of a machine, the eyeballs twitched
and twitched. His face was so white that it made his yellow hair look
brown, while from his opened mouth, there issued that loud and terrible
sound of guttering, rasping, laboured breathing that gagged and choked
and gurgled with every inhalation.

"Oh, Harrie, Harrie," called Mrs. Derrick, catching at one of his hands.

The doctor shook his head.

"He is unconscious, Mrs. Derrick."

"Where was he--where is--the--the----"

"Through the lungs."

"Will he get well? Tell me the truth."

"I don't know. Mrs. Derrick."

She had all but fainted, and the old rancher, Garnett, half-carrying,
half-leading her, took her to the one adjoining room--Minna Hooven's
bedchamber. Dazed, numb with fear, sh