Alexander’s cab went back empty.
“I say,” said the hotel servants to the cabman as soon as they saw him, “you took a party of gents out to the mountains to look for minerals, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” growled the Jehu.
“Well, and they found ’em—at least one of ’em did,—a beautiful round specimen of lead mineral; and he liked it so well he put it into his bosom. But I’m told it didn’t agree with him!”
Alexander was carefully carried to his chamber and laid upon his bed.
Around him stood Doctor Dietz, Mr. Tredegar, John Simms, and one or two of the servants of the hotel.
In this more favorable position, his wounds were more carefully examined and skilfully dressed. Both wounds were found to be very serious.
He was relieved of his blood-stained garments and put into a clean suit of under clothes, and again laid back upon his pillow.
During this process he had given but few signs of consciousness—only groaning slightly when being moved, as if motion distressed his lacerated chest.
And then the room was darkened.