"It shall be done," I answered.
Seeking my hand he pressed it closely, saying:
"Thanks, good, true friend; now can I die in peace."
With that he closed his eyes again, his head sank back upon my shoulder, and I thought his life had sped; but suddenly he looked forth with a wild, unearthly stare, and pointed skywards, saying:
"See! see! A mighty army which no man can number! Hark to the tramp of feet! They march, and I must join them! Let me go, friend!"
Springing to his feet, he stood there swaying like a drunken man; and, waving a hand above his head, cried:
"Monmouth! Liberty! God with----"
The choking blood gushed up into his throat, and so he staggered back into my arms--a corpse.
I laid him gently down, folded his hands upon his breast, and having said a simple prayer above him, rode swiftly back to other scenes of death.
CHAPTER XXI