About this time, also, the English—learning of the Prophet’s defeat and misfortunes—sent him a supply of arms, ammunition, blankets, and cooking utensils. Bradford distributed these goods impartially.
Toward the last of December, the weather suddenly grew warmer and game again appeared in the vicinity of the village. Despondency and gloom gave way to feasting and rejoicing.
One morning, a few days before Christmas, La Violette sat by Douglas’s couch. Bradford had been up all night. Now he lay sleeping the sleep of utter nervous exhaustion. The fire in the middle of the room burned dimly—casting angular shadows upon the rough log walls. Outside the rain fell drearily. The earth was water-soaked; the air, fog-laden and chilly.
Nothing broke the stillness of the room, but the muffled, sullen rush of the distant stream and the low, incoherent mutterings of the restless patient. Uneasily he moved his head from side to side, and aimlessly picked at imaginary objects in the air. He was the shadow of his magnificent self. His hollow, burning eyes were wide open and staring; his parched lips, drawn apart. No color was in his face, except the hectic spots upon his sunken cheeks.
La Violette was pale and worn. As she looked upon the wreck of virile manhood before her, she sighed deeply, and despondently shook her head.
Even as she looked upon the sick man, an abrupt change came over him. His lips ceased to move—and gradually turned blue; his teeth set themselves with a sharp click. The hectic spots upon his cheeks faded, leaving his face of marble whiteness; and an icy sweat bathed his brow and temples. A rigor shook his emaciated form from head to foot; his breathing became irregular.
La Violette caught his hand in hers, and found it cold and clammy. Springing to her feet, she ran to Bradford and aroused him. He was wide awake in an instant.
“What’s the matter?” he inquired anxiously.
“He—is—dying!”
The words fell like leaden balls. Bradford felt each of them strike his heart. The girl’s face wore a horrified expression. Without waiting to hear more, Bradford ran to his patient’s bedside. After a hurried examination he announced: