“Is everything right?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t you think you had better shut the windows? I am afraid some creature will get into the room.”
“I will,” answered Somers, afraid to use many words.
He crept back into the chamber of death, and respecting the fears of the woman, who might be the wife or the mother of the deceased, he closed three of the four windows, and when he had passed out himself, shut the remaining one. With the utmost care, he departed from the house laden with the precious articles he had obtained. It was one o’clock at night, as he had seen by a clock in the house, and all was still. At a safe distance from the mansion, he took off the rags he wore, and put on the rebel uniform, leaving the other suit, which was heavier and warmer, for De Banyan. Thus relieved of a portion of his burden, he hastened to the couch of his perishing companion.
“How do you feel, my best friend?” said Somers, as he bent over the sick man.
“Is that you, Somers? I hoped you had gone,” replied the major, very faintly.
“No: I am come with life and hope,” added Somers, as he placed the bottle of brandy to the sick man’s lips.
He drank all that his faithful companion dared to give him. It warmed his stomach, and gave him new life.
“God bless you, Somers! I was thinking that brandy would save my life. I felt as though my vitals were frozen.”