He closed his eyes as he spoke, and I was going to steal away, but his grasp tightened on my hand.
“Don’t leave me, Dale,” he whispered. “You’ll promise all this, won’t you?”
“If it is necessary,” I said; “but you—”
He opened his eyes, and looked at me, smiling gently, and I ceased speaking, for I knew that my words were not true as I sat beside him all through that hot day waiting.
Mr Frewen came in from time to time, but he said little, and Walters appeared to be dozing for the most part.
“Better stay,” Mr Frewen whispered; and then in answer to my questioning look, he shook his head, and I knew that it was all over.
It was close upon sundown, and the interior of the cabin was filled with an orange glow when Mr Frewen came in again.
Walters seemed to be fast asleep, quite free from pain, and breathing easily.
“You must be terribly faint, my lad. You have had nothing,” the doctor whispered.
“Yes, I have,” I replied. “Bob Hampton brought me a biscuit and some soup, and Miss Denning brought me some tea just now.”