ointed eagerly with his thin hand straight across the
fire. Ned turned in that direction, and at once saw the objects which
had attracted his attention. Two bright gleaming balls shone in the
dark background of the forest, like two lustrous Irish diamonds in a
black field of bog-oak. He knew at once that they were the eyes of a
deer, which, with a curiosity well-known as peculiar to many wild
animals, had approached the fire to stare at it.

Ned instantly threw forward his rifle; the light of the fire enabled him
easily to align the sights on the glittering eyes; the deadly contents
belched forth, and a heavy crash told that his aim had been true.

"Bravo!" shouted Tom Collins, forgetting his ailments in the excitement
of the moment, while Ned threw down his rifle, drew his hunting-knife,
sprang over the fire, and disappeared in the surrounding gloom. In a
few minutes he returned with a fine deer on his shoulders.

"So ho! my boy," he cried, flinging the carcase down; "that was a lucky
shot. We shall sup well to-night, thanks to curiosity, which is a most
useful quality in beast as well as man. But what's wrong; you look
pale, and, eh? you don't mean to say you're--laughing?"

Tom was indeed pale, for the sudden excitement, in his exhausted
condition had been too much for him; yet there did seem a peculiar
expression about the corners of his mouth that might have been the
remains of a laugh.

"Ned," he said, faintly, "the--the decoction's all gone." Ned sprang up
and ran to the fire, where, sure enough, he found the pan, over which he
had bent so long with necromantic gaze, upset, and most of the precious
liquid gone.

"Ha!" he cried, catching up the pot, "not _all_ gone, lad, so your
rejoicing was premature. There's quite enough left yet to physic you
well; and it's in fit state to be taken, so open your mouth at once, and
be a good boy."

A little of the medicine, mixed in water, was administered, and Tom,
making a wry face, fell back on his couch with a sigh. Immediately
after he was seized with, perhaps, the severest shaking fit he had yet
experienced, so that Ned could not help recalling the well-known
caution, so frequently met with on medicine vials, "When taken, to be
well shaken," despite the anxiety he felt for his friend. But soon
after, the trembling fit passed away, and Tom sank into a quiet
slumber,--the first real rest he had enjoyed for several days.

Ned felt his pulse and his brow, l