He sank back again in a strangely excited state, for the idea that, in his fleeing to this peaceful place, he had been the
means of bringing three desperate men to perhaps rob, and murder, and destroy, where all was repose and peace, was too terrible to bear.
One minute he was certain that it was all fancy, just as he had dreamed again and again of Mike and his ruffianly companions; the next he was as sure that what he had seen was real.
“I’ll go and find some one,” he said hastily; and, rising feebly to his feet, he set off for the farm, but only to catch wildly at the trees to save himself from falling.
The vertigo passed off as quickly as it came on.
“How absurd!” he said, with a faint laugh. “A moment’s giddiness. That’s all.”
He started again, but everything sailed round, and he sank upon the earth with a groan to try and make out whether it was all fancy or a dream.
In a moment he seemed to be back at home with a bad headache, and his mother passing softly to and fro, while Kitty, full of sympathy, kept soaking handkerchiefs in vinegar and water to cool his heated brow.
Then, as he lay with his eyes tightly closed, Uncle Josiah came into the room, and laid his hand pityingly upon his shoulder.