“I tell you I will! My oath is sacred. Who will believe me, without him—without Burgoyne?” he continued in his delirium.
Hoping a sudden fright might bring him to consciousness, I laid my hand upon his arm sharply, and exclaimed,—
“What do you want me to do?”
Seemingly startled for a moment, he was silent. Then he asked,—
“What time is it?”
“Half-past six,” I answered.
“I’ve told you all. That cursed fall last night has done for me; or I would have gone with you—gone with you to—to—”
Again he faltered. The fingers which I clasped seemed to stiffen around mine and grow cold.
He was dying!
“For Heaven’s sake bear up a few moments!” I implored. “There must be a doctor about now. See, it’s getting light!”