"I fear he is, poor fellow."
"We shall, therefore, run no risk in trying the efficacy of my superior remedy upon him."
"Certainly not."
The stranger bent over the young man, and regarded him for a moment with fixed attention; then he drew from his pocket a flask of carved crystal, filled with a fluid as green as emerald. With the point of his dagger he slightly opened the wounded man's closed teeth, and poured into his mouth four or five drops of the fluid contained in the flask. A strange thing then occurred; the young man gave vent to a deep sigh, opened his eyes several times, and suddenly, as if moved by supernatural force, he sat up and looked around him with amazement. Don Pablo and the missionary were almost inclined to believe in a miracle so extraordinary did the fact appear to them. The stranger returned to his dark corner. Suddenly the young man passed his hand over his dank forehead, and muttered in a hollow voice:—
"Ellen, my sister, it is too late. I cannot save her. See, see, they are carrying her off; she is lost!"
And he fell back on the bed, as the three men rushed towards him.
"He sleeps!" the missionary said in amazement.
"He is saved?" the stranger answered.
"What did he want to say, though?" Don Pablo inquired anxiously.
"Did you not understand it?" the stranger asked of him.