BUT in wrenching himself free in his effort to escape, the man threw Mr. Ellis down, and the latter, in falling, struck his head violently against the sharp corner of a carved chiffonier, and lay where he fell, without sound or motion.
By this time the whole household was roused, and Miss Burnard at once took the direction of affairs. The master of the house was carried to his bed, and a messenger was despatched for the surgeon. In the confusion no one noticed that Dina had vanished, so that wholly unobserved she crept into the jungle walk, and in a moment came upon the tall burglar leaning up against a tree and panting heavily.
The child came to his side. "No one knows, Brother Bob; no one shall know: that's our secret. But you've hurt him—dad, I mean—in knocking him down."
"And he has hurt me—shot me in the side—and I shall bleed to death, if I don't have help soon," replied the young man in a failing voice.
"Oh dear, what shall we do?" said the little girl.
Bob said nothing. He seemed faint and ready to fall.
Presently Dina said:
"Lean on me, and try to get as far as the seat."
Bob did so, and sank down heavily on the bench.
"Now I'm going for nurse," said Dina, and she flew back to the house.