"Oh, no,
no! Not this! He is not that sort, I know. It must have been an
accident and--"
"Accident! Don't come near me! I mean it. God, my heart is too full of
vengeance. Accident? Is this blood on my arm accidental? Bah! It was a
deliberate attempt to murder me!"
"You? You, too?" she gasped, reeling.
"Yes--they've winged me, too. Oh, God, if I only had been armed. There
_would_ have been a killing!"
"Let me see--let me help you!" she cried, coming up to his side,
white-faced and terrified. "I won't stay away! You are hurt. Please!
Please! I am not your enemy."
For a long minute he held back, savagely resentful, glowering upon
her, then his face softened and his hand went out to clasp hers.
"I knew you had nothing to do with it. Forgive me--forgive my
rudeness. Don't be alarmed about me. Two or three scattered shot
struck me in the arm. The fellow's aim was bad when it came to me.
But he--he got the dog! Poor old Bonaparte! It's as if he were a--a
brother, Miss Drake. I loved him and he loved me."
"You must let me see your arm. I will not take no for an answer. It
must need attention--"
"Believe me, it is nothing. I have tied my handkerchief about it--two
little shot, that's all. The first charge riddled the dog. But I
forget. I am still on your sister's land. At any minute I may be shot
from behind some tree. I--I couldn't help crying, Miss Drake. It was
cruel--fiendish! Now, if you'll permit me, I'll take my dead off of
your land.
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