"They're poking fun at some poor devil, that don't quite see what
they're after."

A nearer approach soon gave him a clue to the mystery; but all his
farther speculations upon it were arrested, by a deep groan from the
wounded man, and a writhing movement in the bottom of the wagon, as the
wheel rolled over a little pile of stones in the road.

Forrester's humanity checked his curiosity. He stooped to the sufferer,
composed his limbs upon the straw, and, as the vehicle, by this time,
had approached the tavern, he ordered the wagoner to drive to the rear
of the building, that the wounded man might lose, as much as possible,
the sounds of clamor which steadily rose from the hall in front. When
the wagon stopped, he procured proper help, and, with the tenderest
care, assisted to bear our unconscious traveller from the vehicle, into
the upper story of the house, where he gave him his own bed, left him in
charge of an old negro, and hurried away in search of that most
important person of the place, the village-doctor.

CHAPTER VI.

CODE AND PRACTICE OF THE REGULATORS.

Forrester was fleet of foot, and the village-doctor not far distant. He
was soon procured, and, prompt of practice, the hurts of Ralph Colleton
were found to be easily medicable. The wound was slight, the graze of a
bullet only, cutting some smaller blood-vessels, and it was only from
the loss of blood that insensibility had followed. The moderate skill of
our country-surgeon was quite equal to the case, and soon enabled him to
put the mind of Mark Forrester, who was honestly and humanely anxious,
at perfect rest on the subject of his unknown charge. With the dressing
of his wound, and the application of restoratives, the consciousness of
the youth returned, and he was enabled to learn how he had been
discovered, where he was, and to whom he was indebted for succor in the
moment of his insensibility.

Ralph Colleton, of course, declared his gratitude in warm and proper
terms; but, as enjoined by the physician, he was discouraged from all
unnecessary speech. But he was not denied to listen, and Forrester was
communicative, as became his frank face and honest impulses. The brief
questions of Ralph obtained copious answers; and, for an hour, the
woodman cheered the solitude of his chamber, by the narration of such
matters as were most likely to interest his hearer, in respect to the
new region where he was, perforce, kept a prisoner. Of Chestatee,