Bensef ran to meet them, but when he saw his messenger already returned his countenance fell.
"For God's sake, what is the matter? Why are you not in Tchernigof?" he said.
"I was," retorted Itzig, "but I have come back. Here," he continued, opening a bag about his neck and carefully drawing therefrom a small piece of parchment covered with hieroglyphics, "put this under the boy's tongue and he will recover!"
"But what is this paper?" asked Hirsch, suspiciously.
"It is from the bal-shem. Don't ask so many questions, but do as I tell you! Put it under the boy's tongue before the Sabbath or it will be of no avail!"
Hirsch looked from Itzig to the ever-increasing crowd that was peering in through the open door. Then he gazed at the parchment. It was about two inches square and covered with mystic signs which none understood, but the power of which none doubted. In the margin was written in Hebrew, "In the name of the Lord—Rabbi Eleazer."
There was no time for idle curiosity. Hirsch ran into the patient's presence with the precious talisman and placed it under the boy's tongue.
"There, my child," he whispered; "the bal-shem sends you this. By to-morrow you will be cured."
The boy, whose fever appeared already broken, opened his eyes and, looking gratefully at Hirsch, answered:
"Yes, dear uncle, I shall soon be well," and fell into a deep sleep.