Jacquelina gazed in horror on her work.
And then her screams of terror filled the house!
The family came rushing in. Foremost entered the commodore, shaking his stick in a towering passion, and exclaiming at the top of his voice:
"What the devil is all this? What's broke loose now? What are you raising all this row for, you infernal little hurricane?"
"Oh, uncle! aunty! mother! look—look!" exclaimed Jacquelina, wringing her pale fingers, and pointing to the fallen man.
The sight arrested all eyes.
The miserable man lay over on his side, ghastly pale, and breathing laboriously, every breath pumping out the life-blood, that had made a little pool beside his face.
Mrs. Waugh and Mary L'Oiseau hastened to stoop and raise the sufferer.
The commodore drew near, half stupefied, as he always was in a crisis.
"What—what—what's all this? Who did it? How did it happen?" he asked, with a look of dull amazement.
"Give me a sofa cushion, Maria, to place under his head. Mary L'Oiseau, hurry as fast as you can, and send a boy for Dr. Brightwell; tell him to take the swiftest horse in the stable, and ride for life and death, and bring the physician instantly, for Dr. Grimshaw is dying! Hurry!"