rudder-lines under his arm-pits; his struggling ceased
and I shouted for help. Lights moved on the bank, and presently a boat
shot towards us. The landlord said, "Mercy on us! Excuse me, sir, but
you did ought to be careful. You ought to be shot for risking that man's
life; I see as how it is." I was only too glad to have missed seeing a
tragedy, and I let Boniface talk on.

It was agreed that Bob should have his draught, and that I should sit up
by his bedside till four next morning. We wrapped him in warm blankets,
and coaxed him into taking the medicine. He started and twitched for
some time, and at last sank into sleep. He moaned again and again, but
showed no signs of waking, and I sat quietly smoking and framing good
resolutions. My eyeballs were irritable, and I found that I could only
obtain ease by closing my eyes. Once I started up and walked to and fro;
then it struck me I ought to throw the Derringer out of the window, and
I did so; then I sat down. The clock struck two; my tired eyes closed,
but I was sure I could keep awake, and I began to repeat old songs
merely to test my memory and keep the brain active.

Crash! I was sitting on the floor. The clock struck one, two, three! Bob
was gone. I had fallen asleep and betrayed my trust. I could have cried,
but that would do little good. The door opened, and Darbishire
appeared--prowling stealthily and glaring. A long glitter met my eye,
and I saw that Bob had taken down an old Yeomanry sabre from the wall of
the next room. He came on, and I shrank under the shadow of my
arm-chair. He heaved up the sabre, and shouted, "Now, you beast, I've
got you on the hop!" and hacked at the bed with wild fury. As he turned
his back on me, I prepared to lay hold on him; he whirled round swiftly,
and my heart came into my mouth. I cried out, "Bob, old man!" He started
furiously for a second, and then made a pass at me, sending the steel
through my clothes on the right side. I felt a slight sting, but did not
mind, and by wrenching myself half round I tore the sabre from his
hand. Then I closed, and held him, in spite of his struggles and
frothing curses, until the landlord and ostler burst in and helped me.

The cut on my side only needed sticking-plaister, but I was completely
exhausted, and I resolved not to risk such another experience for any
price. I said to the landlord, "He must be taken to the town, where we
can have a doctor and attendants handy."

"But you won't