From the difficulty of removal, it seemed as though one of the party beneath was either killed or badly wounded, for it was several minutes before they could gain the outer door.
‘Are they really retiring?’ whispered Walpole.
‘Yes; they seem to have suffered heavily.’
‘Would you not give them one shot at parting—that carbine is charged?’ asked he anxiously.
‘Not for worlds,’ said she; ‘savage as they are, it would be ruin to break faith with them.’
‘Give me a pistol, my left hand is all right.’ Though he tried to speak with calmness, the agony of pain he was suffering so overcame him that he leaned his head down, and rested it on her shoulder.
‘My poor, poor fellow,’ said she tenderly, ‘I would not for the world that this had happened.’
‘They’re gone, Miss Kate, they’ve passed out at the big gate, and they’re off,’ whispered old Mathew, as he stood trembling behind her.
‘Here, call some one, and help this gentleman up the stairs, and get a mattress down on the floor at once; send off a messenger, Sally, for Doctor Tobin. He can take the car that came this evening, and let him make what haste he can.’
‘Is he wounded?’ said Nina, as they laid him down on the floor. Walpole tried to smile and say something, but no sound came forth.