eginning to fortify
himself with caps, and capes, and comforters,--precautions that he never
omitted when moving from one room to the other.

CHAPTER XII. A NIGHT AT SEA

Glencore's chamber presented a scene of confusion and dismay as Upton
entered. The sick man had torn off the bandage from his temples, and so
roughly as to reopen the half-closed artery, and renew the bleeding. Not
alone the bedclothes and the curtains, but the faces of the attendants
around him, were stained with blood, which seemed the more ghastly from
contrast with their pallid cheeks. They moved hurriedly to and fro,
scarcely remembering what they were in search of, and evidently deeming
his state of the greatest peril. Traynor, the only one whose faculties
were unshaken by the shock, sat quietly beside the bed, his fingers
firmly compressed upon the orifice of the vessel, while with the other
hand he motioned to them to keep silence.

Glencore lay with closed eyes, breathing long and labored inspirations,
and at times convulsed by a slight shivering. His face, and even his
lips, were bloodless, and his eyelids of a pale, livid hue. So terribly
like the approach of death was his whole appearance that Upton whispered
in the doctor's ear,--

"Is it over? Is he dying?"

"No, Upton," said Glencore; for, with the acute hearing of intense
nervousness, he had caught the words. "It is not so easy to die."

"There, now,--no more talkin',--no discoorsin'--azy and quiet is now the
word."

"Bind it up and leave me,--leave me with _him_;" and Glencore pointed to
Upton.

"I dar' n't move out of this spot," said Billy, addressing Upton. "You'd
have the blood coming out, _per saltim_, if I took away my finger."

"You must be patient, Glencore," said Upton, gently; "you know I'm
always ready when you want me."

"And you'll not leave this,--you'll not desert me?" cried the other,
eagerly.

"Certainly not; I have no thought of going away."

"There, now, hould your prate, both of ye, or, by my conscience, I 'll
not take the responsibility upon me,--I will not!" said Billy, angrily.
"'Tis just a disgrace and a shame that ye haven't more discretion."

Glencore's lips moved with a feeble attempt at a smile, and in his faint
voice he said,--

"We must obey the doctor, Upton; but don't leave me."

Upton moved a chair to the bedside, and sat down without a word.

"Ye think an artery is like a canal, with a lock-gate to it, I believe,"
said Billy, i