"recollect, I, before you, acquit Mr Newland of all blame, and desire,
if any further accident should happen to me, that my relations will take
no steps whatever against him."

Harcourt was very pale, and bleeding fast. Without any answer I
examined the wound, and found, by the colour of the blood, and its
gushing, that an artery had been divided. My professional knowledge
saved his life. I compressed the artery, while I gave directions to the
others. A handkerchief was tied tight round his thigh, above the
wound--a round stone selected, and placed under the handkerchief, in the
femoral groove, and the ramrod of one of the pistols then made use of as
a winch, until the whole acted as a tourniquet. I removed my thumbs,
found that the haemorrhage was stopped, and then directed that he should
be taken home on a door, and surgical assistance immediately sent for.

"You appear to understand these things, sir," said Mr Cotgrave. "Tell
me, is there any danger?"

"He must suffer amputation," replied I, in a low voice, so that Harcourt
could not hear me. "Pray watch the tourniquet carefully as he is taken
home, for should it slip it will be fatal."

I then bowed to Mr Cotgrave, and, followed by Captain Atkinson, stepped
into the hackney-coach and drove home. "I will leave you now, Newland,"
said Captain Atkinson: "it is necessary that I talk this matter over, so
that it is properly explained."

I thanked Captain Atkinson for his services, and was left alone; for I
had sent Timothy to ascertain if Harcourt had arrived safe at his
lodgings. Never did I feel more miserable; my anxiety for Harcourt was
indescribable; true, he had not treated me well, but I thought of his
venerable father, who pressed my hand so warmly when I left his
hospitable roof--of his lovely sisters, and the kindness and affection
which they had shown towards me, and our extreme intimacy. I thought of
the pain which the intelligence would give them, and their indignation
towards me, when their brother first made his appearance at his father's
house, mutilated; and were he to die--good God! I was maddened at the
idea. I had now undone the little good I had been able to do. If I had
made Fleta and her mother happy, had I not plunged another family into
misery?

PART TWO, CHAPTER THIRTY.

THIS IS A STRANGE WORLD; I AM CUT BY A MAN OF NO CHARACTER, BECAUSE HE
IS FEARFUL THAT I SHOULD INJURE HIS CHARACTER.

Timothy returned, and brought m