ir.

Instead of starting back to avoid the blow, as he might easily have
done, Shock without a moment's hesitation sprang towards the child,
taking the full weight of the blow upon' his arm and head, but without
entirely saving Patsy. Together they fell, Shock bleeding profusely
from a deep cut on the head.

Two men sprang to his aid, while Carroll stood stupidly gazing down
upon the white face of the little boy.

"Never mind me," said Shock, recovering consciousness quickly, "look to
the child. Is he hurt?"

"He's dead, I guess," said Sinclair.

"It's a lie!" cried Carroll, in a hoarse voice. "It's a blank lie, I
tell you!"

His face was white and his terrible eyes, so lately suffused with the
light of murder, were filled with startled terror. He dropped beside
his child and lifted him in his arms, crying softly, "Patsy, boy. Aw,
now Patsy, darlin'. Spake to me, Patsy."

But the long lashes lay quietly upon the white cheeks, and the little
form remained limp and still. Carroll lifted an amazed and
terror-stricken face to the company.

"What have I done? Sure he's not dead!" he said in an awed whisper.

"No, no," said Shock, wiping the blood out of his eyes and leaning over
the little white face. "Water, Perault, and brandy," he cried. "Quick!"

The men who had stood aghast at the tragic ending of what had been
simply a row of more than ordinary interest now hastened to give help.
Water and brandy were immediately at hand. Ignoring his own wound,
Shock bathed the face and hands of the unconscious child, but there was
no sign of life.

"Guess he's gone out, right enough," said a cowboy.

"Liar! Liar! Blank your cursed soul for a liar!" cried Carroll, in a
tone of agony.

"Man, man!" said Shock, in a stern, solemn voice, "would you provoke
the Almighty to anger with your oaths? You ought rather to beseech His
mercy for your own soul. Why should He give your child to the care of
such a man as you? Give me the lad."

Without a word of remonstrance Carroll allowed Shock to lift the
lifeless child and carry him into the open air, where, laying him on
the ground, he began to vigorously chafe his hands and feet. After some
minutes of bathing and rubbing the eyelids began to flutter and the
breath to come in gentle sighs.

"Brandy now, Perault," said Shock. "There now, laddie. Thank God, he is
coming to!"

"Dad, dad, where's dad?" said little Patsy faintly, opening his eyes.
"I want dad."

"Here! Here! P