t hole over the region of the left lung.

"Turn him over on his left side, men," she said, half rising from her
knee.

As they followed her directions, the blood flowed freely both from the
wound and from the mouth of the man.

"Joe, mount Fleetfoot and gallop to Blackville as fast as you can go,
and bring Dr. Hart, though I don't believe it will be a bit of use; but
still it is our duty. And, Tabby, and Libby, stop wringing of your hands
and rolling of your eyes, and go up stairs and fetch down the cot
bedstead to lay him on, for it stands to reason we can't carry him
up-stairs without hastening of his end," said the old woman, as she
busied herself with stanching the wound in the chest.

All her orders were immediately obeyed.

The cot bed was made up in the corner of the room, and the wounded man
was tenderly raised by the two laborers, and laid upon it.

"Now stand out of my way, all of you, and don't ask any questions, but
be ready to fly, the minute I tell you to do anything," said the dame,
as she stood over the injured man and still pressed a little wad of lint
over the bullet hole to stanch the blood.

The other women and the men withdrew to the fireplace and waited.

"He is very nasty and uncomfortable-looking, lying here in all these
stained clothes, but I am afraid to undress him for fear of starting the
wound to bleeding again, and that's the sacred truth," said Mrs.
Winterose.

"No; don't move me," spoke a very faint voice, which, as she afterwards
said, sounded so much as if it might have come from the dead, that the
old lady withdrew her hand and recoiled from it.

"Brandy! brandy!" breathed the same voice.

"Tabby, get the brandy bottle and pour some into a glass and bring it
here. Quick!" she exclaimed.

Miss Tabby, too much awed to whimper, brought the required stimulant,
which Mrs. Winterose immediately administered to the patient.

The effect was good. He breathed more freely and looked around him.

"Now, be of good cheer! I have sent a man on a fast horse for the
doctor. He will be here in an hour," said Mrs. Winterose encouragingly.

The wounded man laughed faintly, as he replied:

"Why, what can the doctor do for me? I'm shot to death. I'd like to see
a magistrate, or a lawyer, though."

"Would you? Then you shall. Hey! one of you men, run out to the stable
as fast as you can, and see if Joe's gone. If he isn't, tell him to
fetch lawyer Closeby, as well as the doctor," said Mr