I felt dazed, as a man must feel who has just heard the death sentence pronounced upon him. Hilton seemed to have become incapable of speech or action; and in silence we stood watching Carneta tending the unconscious man. She forced brandy from a flask between his teeth, kneeling there beside him with her face very pale and dark rings around her eyes. Presently she looked up.
"Will you please get me a bowl of water and a sponge?" she said quietly.
Soar departed without a word, and no one spoke until he returned, bringing the sponge and the water, when the girl set to work in a businesslike way to cleanse a wound which showed upon the man's head.
"She's a good nurse is Carneta," said Dexter coolly. "She was the only doctor I had through this" — indicating his maimed wrist. "If you will fetch my bag down, there's some lint in it."
I hesitated.
"You needn't worry," said Dexter; "as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. You've handled the bag, and I'm not asking you to do any more."
I went up to my room and lifted the grip from the chair upon which I had put it. Even now I found it difficult to perceive any difference between this and mine. Both were of identical appearance and both new. In fact, I had bought mine only that morning, my old one being past use, and being in a hurry, I had not left it to be initialled.
As I picked up the bag the lightning flashed again, and from the window I could see the orchard as clearly as by sunlight. At the farther end near the wall someone was standing watching the house.
I went downstairs carrying the fatal bag, and rejoined the group in the hall.
"He will have to be got to bed," said Carneta, referring to the wounded man; "he will probably remain unconscious for a long time."