he tan.'

'By gad, you are right!' It was Colonel McClure who whispered this
excitedly, and I saw that my words had a meaning to him. What was in his
mind I could not tell, but that he was thinking hard I was sure.

'He isn't dead,' I said excitedly; 'I am sure he isn't!' And again I
took his left hand in mine, and lifted it. Then I saw something else.
It was very little, but it meant a great deal to me. I remembered how
that morning Edgecumbe had been using a pair of Indian clubs, and had
rolled up his shirt sleeves. I had remarked to myself at the time the
wonderful ease with which he had swung the clubs, and what perfectly
shaped arms he had. They were large and hard, and firm, without a mark
of any sort. Now, just below the elbow, in the lower part of the arm,
was a blue spot. It was so small that it might have been covered by a
threepenny-piece, and in the dim light of the lamp would not be easily
seen.

'Did you see this? Did you do it?' I almost gasped.

Colonel McClure examined the spot closely, and then nodded to Dr. Merril.

'Did you see this, Merril?' he asked.

'No,' replied Dr. Merril excitedly. 'As you know you--you----!' He
stopped suddenly like one afraid.

Colonel McClure took a powerful glass from his case and examined the spot
closely for some seconds. Then he said to his fellow doctor, evidently
with satisfaction, 'By gad, we've done the right thing!'

'What does it mean?' I asked. 'Tell me.'

'I will tell you in an hour from now,' and I saw a new light in the
colonel's eyes. Then I heard him mutter to himself, 'I was an ass to
have missed that.'

I put my hand upon Edgecumbe's forehead; and I could have sworn that it
was warm and moist. The moisture was different from the clammy sweat
which had poured out on his face when first we had brought him to bed
hours before.

Excitedly I told the doctors of my impression, and then McClure commanded
me to stand aside, as if I were an interloper. Although I believe the
old military doctor was as excited as I, he made no sign, save that his
lips moved as if he were talking to himself.

'Do you know what it means?' I asked, as he left the bed.

'It means that you must get out of this,' he replied gruffly.

'I won't,' I answered, for I had wellnigh lost control over myself.
Something, I could not tell what, made me sure that an important change
was taking place in my friend's condition, and I forgot all about the
etiquette of a