Segwuna knew that this referred to Arnold. She reasoned thus:
“What conspiracy was this that had been divulged to her? Must she inform Congress? No. She had come here because she loved Mollie Greydon, and she must save Mr. Barclugh’s life. The Great Spirit had given her this knowledge, and she must find out all she could about Arnold and Mr. Barclugh. She could serve Congress by wisely learning all she possibly could. She must not blast Mollie’s hopes until the whole truth is known.”
The night augured badly for Barclugh. He awoke from his stupor about ten o’clock, and his eyes showed intense suffering and sadness. He not only suffered intense physical agonies, but when his mind regained lucidity, thoughts of his plot with Arnold surged through his mind, and the look of anguish on his face was most pitiable.
As the hour of eleven o’clock drew near, Segwuna noticed that the eyes of her patient glistened more than before, and an expression of abject helplessness came over his face. His face was flushed perceptibly and the nervous stroking of his stomach indicated to Segwuna that her applications of mustard ought to be applied.
After these were administered to the feet and stomach, quietude succeeded the restless spell and the sick man lay peacefully until Dr. Greydon arrived in the morning. He noted a material reduction in the patient’s temperature. It was now down to 100 degrees, and the crisis seemed passed; but still the lower temperature did not indicate assurance of recovery.
When the fever begins to decline a period of low fever and depression follows. If a relapse now occurs, the patient succumbs; but Segwuna watched over her charge for ten days, until he was able to sit up and partake of some solid food.
During the period of calm succeeding the paroxysm of fever, an event occurred which threw more mystery than ever around the career of Roderick Barclugh.
One morning very early before the break of day, when not a sound disturbed the sick-room but the tick of the clock, and an occasional ship’s bell announcing the change of the watch, a loud rap sounded on the front door. Segwuna was all alone.
She went to the door, and there stood a burly Swedish fisherman whose eyes bulged in astonishment to see a woman appear.
“What do you want?” asked Segwuna sweetly.