Eve lying close beside it upon the
floor. Her eyes were closed, and a great wound upon her forehead, with
blood oozing slowly from it, suggested death to the horrified men.

In an instant Jim was at Eve's side, bending over her, seeking some
signs of life. Then, as Peter came up, he turned to him with a look of
unutterable relief.

"She's alive," he said.

"Thank God!"

"Quick," Jim hurried on, "water and a sponge, or towel or something."

Peter crossed the room to the barrel, and dipped out some water; and,
further, he procured a washing flannel, and hastened back with them to
Jim, who was kneeling supporting the girl's wounded head upon his
hand.

And all the time Elia, as though in sheer idle curiosity, watched the
scene, steadily continuing his meal the while. There was no sort of
feeling expressed in his cold eyes. Nor did he display the least
relief when Jim assured him Eve was alive. Peter watched the boy, and
while Jim bathed her wounded forehead with a tenderness which was
something almost maternal, he questioned him with some exasperation.

"How did it happen?" he demanded, his steady eyes fixed disapprovingly
on the lad's face.

"Don't know. Guess she must ha' fell some. Ther's suthin' red on the
edge o' the coal box. Mebbe it's her blood."

The cold indifference angered even Peter.

"And you sit there with her, maybe, dying. Say, you're pretty mean."

The boy's indifference suddenly passed. He glanced at Eve, then at the
door, and he stirred uneasily.

"I didn't know wher' Will 'ud be. If I'd called folks, an' he'd got
around an' found 'em here----"

"Why didn't you fetch him?" Peter broke in.

"I come in jest after he'd gone out, an'----"

"Found--this?" Peter indicated Eve.

"Yes."

Jim suddenly looked up, and his fierce eyes encountered Peter's. The
latter's tone promptly changed.

"How is she?" he asked gently, and it was evident he was trying to
banish the thoughts which Elia's statement had stirred in Jim's mind.

"Coming to," he said shortly, and turned again to his task of bathing
the injured woman's forehead.

But it was still some minutes before the flicker of the girl's eyelids
proved Jim's words. Then he sighed his relief and for a moment ceased
the bathing and examined the wound. Then he reached a cushion from
one of the kitchen chairs and folded it under her head.

The wound on her forehead was an ugly place just over her right
temple, and there was no doubt in his