the fire; and we then perceived that her right leg was
bleeding profusely, as if from a gun-shot wound. She bandaged it up,
and then dressing herself, remained before the fire until the break of
day.

"Poor little Marcella, her heart beat quick as she pressed me to her
side--so indeed did mine. Where was our brother Caesar? How did my
mother-in-law receive the wound unless from his gun? At last my father
rose, and then for the first time I spoke, saying, `Father, where is my
brother Caesar?'

"`Your brother!' exclaimed he; `why, where can he be?'

"`Merciful Heaven! I thought, as lay very restless last night,'
observed our mother-in-law, `that I heard somebody open the latch of the
door; and, dear me, husband, what has become of your gun?'

"My father cast his eyes up above the chimney, and perceived that his
gun was missing. For a moment he looked perplexed; then, seizing a
broad axe, he went out of the cottage without saying another word.

"He did not remain away from us long; in a few minutes he returned,
bearing in his arms the mangled body of my poor brother; he laid it
down, and covered up his face.

"My mother-in-law rose up, and looked at the body, while Marcella and I
threw ourselves by its side, wailing and sobbing bitterly.

"`Go to bed again, children,' said she, sharply. `Husband,' continued
she, `your boy must have taken the gun down, to shoot a wolf, and the
animal has been too powerful for him. Poor boy! he has paid dearly for
his rashness.'

"My father made no reply. I wished to speak--to tell all--but Marcella
who perceived my intention, held me by the arm, and looked at me so
imploringly, that I desisted.

"My father, therefore, was left in his error; but Marcella and I,
although we could not comprehend it, were conscious that our
mother-in-law was in some way connected with my brother's death.

"That day my father went out and dug a grave; and when he hid the body
in the earth, he piled up stones over it so that the wolves should not
be able to dig it up. The shock of this catastrophe was to my poor
father very severe; for several days he never went to the chase,
although at times he would utter bitter anathemas and vengeance against
the wolves.

"But during this time of mourning on his part, my mother-in-law's
nocturnal wanderings continued with the same regularity as before.

"At last my father took down his gun to repair to the forest; but he
soon returned, and appeared mu