t
in behind. Edward was aware of this: he now kept his eye upon what was
going on at the back. Advancing nearer, which he ventured to do now
that both the men were so occupied, he perceived that the fellow had
contrived to open the window close to the back door, and was remaining
quite close to it with a pistol in his hand, apparently not wishing to
run the risk of climbing in. Edward slipped under the eaves of the
cottage, not six feet from the man, who remained with his back partly
turned towards him. Edward then finding he had obtained this position
unperceived, crouched down with his gun ready pointed.

As Edward remained in this position, he heard a shrill voice cry out,
"They are getting in behind!" and a movement in the cottage. The man
near him, who had his pistol in his hand, put his arm through the window
and fired inside. A shriek was given, and Edward fired his gun into the
body of the man, who immediately fell. Edward lost no time in reloading
his gun, during which he heard the bursting open of the front door and
the report of firearms; then all was silent for a moment, excepting the
wailing of somebody within. As soon as his gun was reloaded Edward
walked round to the front of the cottage, where he found the man who was
called Ben lying across the threshold of the open door. He stepped
across the body, and, looking into the room within, perceived a body
stretched on the floor, and a young lad weeping over it.

"Don't be alarmed, I am a friend," said Edward, going in to where the
body lay; and taking the light which was at the farther end of the
chamber, he placed it on the floor, that he might examine the state of
the person who was breathing heavily, and apparently badly wounded.
"Rise up, my lad," said Edward, "and let me see if I can be of any use."

"Ah! No," cried the boy, throwing back his long hair from his temples,
"he bleeds to death!"

"Bring me some water quick," said Edward, "there's a good lad, while I
see where he is hurt."

The boy ran up to fetch the water, and Edward discovered that the ball
had entered the neck, above the collar-bone, and that the blood poured
out of the man's mouth, who was choking with the effusion. Although
ignorant of surgery, Edward thought that such a wound must be mortal;
but the man was not only alive but sensible, and although he could not
utter a word, he spoke with his eyes and with signs. He raised his hand
and pointed to himself first, and sh