y, and heard my
cousin blaspheme, I would myself have drawn on him, but--" And here, as
I later heard, he fainted from loss of blood, my sword having cut a great
vein; and I likewise lost sense and knowledge. Nor did I know more till
they lifted me and laid me on a litter of poplar boughs, having stanched
my wound as best they might. In the boat, as they ferried us across the
river, I believe that I fainted again; and so, "between home and hell,"
as the saying is, I lay on my litter and was carried along the street
beside the water. Folk gathered around us as we went. I heard their
voices as in a dream, when lo! there sounded a voice that I knew right
well, for Elliot was asking of the people "who was hurt?" At this
hearing I hove myself up on my elbow, beckoning with my other hand; and I
opened my mouth to speak, but, in place of words, came only a wave of
blood that sickened me, and I seemed to be dreaming, in my bed, of Elliot
and her jackanapes; and then feet were trampling, and at length I was
laid down, and so seemed to fall most blessedly asleep, with a little
hand in mine, and rarely peaceful and happy in my heart, though wherefore
I knew not. After many days of tossing on the waves of the world, it was
as if I had been brought into the haven where I would be. Of what was
passing I knew or I remember nothing. Later I heard that a good priest
had been brought to my bedside, and perchance there was made some such
confession as the Church, in her mercy, accepts from sinful men in such
case as mine. But I had no thought of life or death, purgatory or
paradise; only, if paradise be rest among those we love, such rest for an
unknown while, and such sense of blissful companionship, were mine. But
whether it was well to pass through and beyond this scarce sensible joy,
or whether that peace will ever again be mine and unending, I leave with
humility to them in whose hands are Christian souls.

CHAPTER IX--OF THE WINNING OF ELLIOT

The days of fever and of dreams went by and passed, leaving me very weak,
but not ignorant of where I was, and of what had come and gone. My
master had often been by my bedside, and Elliot now and again; the old
housewife also watched me by night, and gave me drink when I thirsted.
Most of the while I deemed I was at home, in the house of Pitcullo; yet I
felt there was something strange, and that there was pain somewhere in
the room. But at length, as was said, I came to k