"Listen," the guide resumed; "my moments are numbered; I shall soon be a dead man. In my position people don't lie. Let me speak without interrupting me. I don't know whether I shall have time to tell you all, before I go to render my account to Him who knows everything."
"Speak!" said the captain.
And, as the voice of the wounded man became weaker and weaker, he went down upon his knees close to him, in order to lose none of his words.
The guide closed his eyes, collected himself for a few seconds, and then, with great effort, said,—
"Give me some brandy?"
"You must be mad! brandy will kill you!"
The wounded man shook his head.
"It will give me the necessary strength to enable me to tell you all I have to say. Am I not already half dead!"
"That's true," muttered the captain.
"Do not hesitate, then," the wounded man replied, who had heard him; "time presses; I have important things to inform you of."