ughed like an idiot. "Stopped at a distillery, and stopped too long.
Don't take a man long to stop too long at a distillery. What's your
name? You ain't Jim, are you? What's your name, anyway; why don't you
talk to a feller."

"It won't do to leave him here," said Lyman, looking about as if
searching for the light from a house. "Do you think you can walk?" he
asked.

"Walk a thousand miles. Hear what I said? Thousand miles. Where do you
want to go, Jim?"

"I want to take you to a house."

"Oh, I'm all right. But don't leave me, Jim. Whatever you do, don't
leave me. I couldn't get along without you. Hit Bob a crack over the
head and addled him so he ain't at himself yet. They took him away
round here to his uncle's to keep him out of the way, and I drove out
there to see him and stopped at distillery and stayed too long. Ever
stay too long, Jim?"

"Do the doctors think that Bob will get well?"

"Yes, in a measure; he won't go round White-Capping any more, though.
But I'll make that all right. I'll meet that feller Lyman and put up
his shutters. Sit down."

"No, there's a house up yonder and I'll take you there. You may be
injured in some way. Let's see if you can walk. Lean on me. That's
it."

"I can't walk fast, Jim. Believe I am hurt some. I'd a drounded out
there if it hadn't been for you, Jim. Ah--h. I don't believe I can go
on. I'm sick."

"Here, let me get my arm around you so I can hold you up better. Now
you're all right. It's only a little way."

They soon came to the house. The barking of dogs brought a man out to
the fence. In a few words Lyman told him what had happened. Sawyer was
unable to walk further and they took him into the house and put him
upon a bed. An excited woman bathed his face, and a barefoot boy, as
fleet as a deer, was sent across the creek for a doctor. Lyman waited
until he came. He said that Sawyer was badly bruised, but added that
he did not appear to be fatally hurt. While they were talking, Sawyer
opened his eyes. "Where's Jim?" he inquired.

"Here," said Lyman, stepping forward.

"Merciful God," the wounded man moaned, and covered his face with his
hands. Lyman stepped back, and Sawyer, putting out his hand, with his
eyes closed, said to him: "Please don't leave me."

"I will stay until daylight," said Lyman.

"Thank you, sir. Don't leave me."

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE REVENGE.

Early the next morning Pitt and his daughter drove to town with
Warren. The pro