This is a convenient, suitable, and orthodox place for the chapter to close; so let it close.
Chapter XIX.
Within and Without the Demon’s Cave.
What had become of Henry?
The ball had struck him in a tender place; and not seriously hurt, but very much frightened, he fell headlong with a groan of—fear!
While the demon was carrying off Will he lay still and made use of his wits.
He reflected logically as follows: “Whatever Will loaded my pistols with, it certainly wasn’t a genuine bullet! So it would be useless for me to fire this pistol at the demon—useless—wicked—and against the laws!”
Gentle reader, mark that; read it carefully two or three times; muse on it; and remember that you yourself were once a boy—or, if not, your father was.
“Oh, how my side smarts! There’ll be a blister, surely!” Henry groaned. “Well, the best way to help Will will be to lie here perfectly still till the demon gets entirely out of sight, and then hop up and scramble away. Where shall I go? To the road? I must look for help somewhere, or Will may be killed! It won’t do to yell for help here, for no one except the demon could hear me. Yes, I must keep still a little while!”
As soon as the demon was well out of sight, Henry arose. But he found himself more bruised than he had thought.