Blant's face darkened, but his voice was gentleness itself as he said, "You done wise, son; and you certainly hit your mark, too,—they was carrying off Dalt when I got down."
Nucky sighed, deeply, happily, closing his eyes.
After a while he opened them again to say, "I allow they shot me up a little too, by these here rags on my head."
"Oh, a trifle, yes,—but none to hurt,—you wa'n't born to die by no Cheever lead."
"Gee, no," breathed Nucky, in quiet scorn.
"We brung you over here to the women, where you could get well sooner," continued Blant, in his gentle, reassuring voice; "and now since you are doing so fine, I reckon I'll leave you a spell and get along home,—the babe is punier than usual."
"Yes, I don't want you to stay here and get arrested," said Nucky; "but I don't want you to go back there neither. You keep a constant watch on Todd,—I wish it was him I had shot."
Rich and I followed Blant out. Not until we stood out in the snow did we wring one another's hands in speechless relief.