They found the patient dangerously hurt, but in full possession of his mental powers. Physician and lawyer were in attendance upon him together or by turns through the remainder of that day and the following night.
Toward morning he slept under the influence of an opiate administered to deaden the sense of pain. Then the doctor withdrew from the room, leaving him in the care of his wife and daughter, and passing out upon the front porch, joined the captain, who was slowly pacing it to and fro.
“Any change?” Charlton asked, stopping in his walk.
“Yes, for the better; I have strong hope that he will recover. How are you progressing with your work?”
“I have finished; nothing is wanting now but Mr. Connor’s signature.”
“I think he will be able to add it when he wakes,” the doctor said; “he is sleeping now. Hark! what was that?”
“A pistol shot and a cry for help!” exclaimed the captain. “It came from the direction of the river, did it not? Some one is, perhaps, in deadly peril. Let us go to the rescue. I have a loaded revolver on the table in the room yonder. It’s hardly safe to be without one in these times of continual burglaries.”
“No; I carry one constantly in travelling about the country roads,” the doctor said; and as the words left his lips two young men belonging to the family came rushing out, excitedly, but with care to make no noise.
“Did you gentlemen hear that shot and cry for help?” they asked, one of them adding, “That band of burglars is after old Himes and his money, I’m afraid. I heard he’d started down the river on a raft and moored for the night about half a mile below here.”
There was a hasty consultation and gathering up of weapons; then the four set off on a run for the river, intending to follow its course till they should reach the probable scene of conflict.