How is your patient? asked the Captain.
Better. He is sitting up conversing with the young man who was on the float with him when he got hurt.
That is Drake, said Cora. I will go after him, and started for the doctor’s room.
Don’t disturb them at present. The old man realizes that his end is near, and wishes to have a private talk with the boy.
The parties then went to the cabin, and Amy and Cora related in part their adventures.
Amy gave Drake’s history from the time she became acquainted with him, and was describing her mother’s funeral when Tom Jones and Jack Frost appeared bearing Cahoonshee in their arms, followed by Drake.
Instantly all voices are hushed, and a death-like silence prevailed.
Here youth and old age clasped hands. The old man was weak and trembling, and it was evident that he was making a superhuman effort to perform a promise made many years ago. Drake stood by his side holding his hand, the very picture of despair as his whole soul went out for Cahoonshee. At that moment he would have forsaken father and mother to prolong the life of him that had been his friend and foster-father.
Mrs. Davis made an attempt to go to the side of her child, but was restrained by the Captain who was doubting whether he could believe his own eyes. Whether the youth that held the aged warrior’s hand was his son.