ook his head, as if to say that it
was all over with him; and then he turned round his head, as if looking
for the lad, who was now returning with the water. When the lad again
knelt by his side, weeping bitterly, the man pointed to him, and gave
such an imploring look that Edward immediately comprehended what he
wished; it was to ask protection for the boy. It could not be
misunderstood, and could Edward do otherwise than promise it to the
dying man? His generous nature could not refuse it, and he said, "I
understand you; you wish me to take care of your boy when you are gone.
Is it not so?"

The man signified assent.

"I promise you I will do so. I will take him into my own family, and he
shall share with us."

The man raised his hand again, and a gleam of joy passed over his
features as he took the hand of the lad and put it into that of Edward.
His eyes were then fixed upon Edward, as if to scrutinise into his
character by his features, while the former bathed his temples and
washed the blood from his mouth with the water brought by the boy, who
appeared in a state of grief so violent as to paralyse his senses.
After a minute or two another effusion of blood choked the wounded man,
who, after a short struggle, fell back dead.

"He is gone!" thought Edward, "and now what is to be done? I must first
ascertain whether the two villains are dead or not." Edward took a
light and examined the body of Ben, lying over the threshold of the
door; the man was quite dead, the ball having entered his brain. He was
proceeding round the outside of the cottage to examine the state of the
other man, whom he had shot himself; but the wind nearly blew out the
light, and he therefore returned to the chamber and placed it on the
floor, near to where the boy lay insensible over the corpse of the man
who had died in the arms of Edward; and then went out without a light,
and with his gun, to the other side of the cottage, where the other
robber had fallen. As he approached the man, a faint voice was heard to
say:

"Ben, Ben! Some water, for the love of God! Ben, I'm done for!"

Edward, without giving an answer, went back to the room for the water,
which he took round to the man, and put it to his lips; he felt that he
was bound by humanity so to do to a dying man, scoundrel though he might
be. It was still dark, but not so dark as it had previously been, for
the late moon was just rising.

The man drank the water eagerly