"Good heavens, she will bleed to death!"
Just as Maxwell spoke, the doctor entered with the scared servant, and at once proceeded to examine the wound. Having done so he looked very grave, and Kaituna caught him by the arm with a cry of terror as he arose from his knees.
"She will live! she will live! Say she will live!"
"I'm afraid not, my dear young lady," said the doctor, gravely; "the bullet has gone right through the lungs."
"Do you think she will die, doctor?" asked Maxwell, in a tone of horror.
"Yes! I am sure of it!"
"Die!" cried the Italian, wildly, "no! no! Lucrezia--my beautiful Lucrezia--you must not die."
"Take that man away," said the doctor, sharply, "and get me some brandy."
Kaituna was the first to obey. The nerve of this girl was wonderful, and notwithstanding all the agonies she had come through, she gave no sign of fainting; and the terrible strain on her mind could only be told by the pallor of her face.
"My brave girl," said Archie, as he assisted her to get what the doctor required.