“B’lindy—my Judas of a wife! She’s betrayed me into the hands o’ them burglars.”
He paused, panting for breath, while the doctor said, soothingly, “I think you are mistaken. She has saved your life by bringing us here to your aid.”
“Humph!” grunted the old man, incredulously. Then, impatiently, and struggling to rise, “Why don’t ye run and ketch the robbers, some o’ ye? they’ll git away with every cent I had.”
“It shall be attended to,” said the doctor; “but you must stop talking, if you want to live to bring them to justice.”
“I’m off after the sheriff and a posse of men to pursue them as fast as possible!” cried one of the young men, springing ashore.
His brother was about to follow, but the doctor detained him. “We must have help to carry Mr. Himes to some place where he can have the care and nursing he is likely to need for days or weeks to come.”
“He’ll have to be taken on a litter?”
“Yes, certainly; he is too weak for any other mode of conveyance.”
“I’ll see to it; I’ll have two or three more men here before I’m an hour older, or my name’s not Bob Connor!” and away he sped toward the town.
Charlton stepped out from the cabin, leaving Dr. Jasper alone with the wounded man.