第75章

"YOU MUST see a surgeon whatever the risk," Lucy said when the others joined them, for now that it was light she could se" by the paleness of Vincent's face, and the drawn expression of the mouth, how much he had suffered.

"You have made so light of your wound that we have not thought of it half as much as we ought to do, and you must have thought me terribly heartless to be laughing and talking when you were in such pain.But it will never do to go on like this; it is quite impossible for you to he traveling so far without having your shoulder properly attended to.""I should certainly be glad to have it looked to," Vincent replied.

"I don't know whether the bullet's there or if it has made its way out, and if that could be seen to, and some splints or something of that sort put on to keep things in their right place, no doubt Ishould be easier; hut I don't see how it is to he managed.At any rate, for the present we must go on, and I would much rather that you said nothing about it.There it is, and fretting over it won't do it any good, while if you talk of other things I may forget it sometimes."In two hours they came upon the railway, whose course lay diagonally across that they were taking.They followed it until they caught sight of the houses of Mount Pleasant, some two miles away, and then crossed it.After walking some distance farther they came upon a small clearing with a log-hut, containing apparently three or four rooms, in the center.

"We had better skirt round this," Vincent suggested.

"No," Lucy said in a determined voice."I have made up my mind Iwould go to the first place we came to and see whether anything can be done for you.I can see you are in such pain you can hardly walk, and it will be quite impossible for you to go much further.

They are sure to be Confederates at heart here, and even if they will not take us in, there is no fear of their betraying us; at any rate we must risk it."Vincent began to remonstrate, but without paying any attention to him the girl left the shelter of the trees and walked straight toward the hon so.The others followed her.Vincent had opposed her suggestion, but he had for some time acknowledged to himself that he could not go much further.lie had been trying to think what had best be done, and had concluded that it would be safest to arrange with some farmer to board Lucy and her nurse for a time, while he himself with Dan went a bit further; and then, if they could get no one to take them in, would camp up in the woods and rest.He decided that in a day or two if no improvement took place in his wound he would give himself up to the Federals at Mount Pleasant, as he would there be able to get his wound attended to.

"I don't think there is any one in the house," Lucy said, looking back over her shoulder; "there is no smoke coming from the chimney, and the shutters are closed, and besides the whole place looks neglected."Upon reaching the door of the house it was evident that it had been deserted.Lucy had now assumed the command.

"Dan," she said, "there is no shutter to the window of that upper room.You must manage to climb up there and get in at that window, and then open the door to us.""All right, missie, me manage dat," Dan said cheerfully.Looking about he soon found a long pole which would answer his purpose, placed the end of this against the window, and climbed up.It was not more than twelve feet above the ground.He broke one of the windows, and inserting his hand undid the fastening and climbed in at the window.A minute later they heard a grating sound, and then the lock shot back under the application of his knife, and the door swung open.

"That will do nicely," Lucy said, entering."We will take possession.If the owners happen to come back we can pay them for the use of the place."The furniture had been removed with the exception of a few of the heavy articles, arid Chloe and Lucy at once set to work, and with bunches of long grass swept out one of the rooms.Dan cut a quantity of grass and piled it upon an old bedstead that stood in the corner, and Lucy smoothed it down.

"Now, sir," she said peremptorily to Vincent, "you will lie down and keep yourself quiet, but first of all I will cut your coat off."One of the table-knives soon effected the work, and the coat was rolled up as a pillow.Dan removed his boots, and Vincent, who was now beyond even remonstrating, laid himself down on his cool bed.

"Now, Chloe," Miss Kingston said when they had left Vincent's room, "I will leave him to your care.I am sure that you must be thoroughly tired, for I don't suppose you have walked so many miles since you were a girl.""I is tired, missie; but I am ready to do anyting you want.""I only want you to attend to him, Chloe.First of all you had better make some tea.You know what is a good thing to give for a fever, and if you can find anything in the garden to make a drink of that sort, do; but I hope he will doze off for some time.When you have done, you had better get this place tidy a little; it is in a terrible litter.Evidently no one has been in since they moved out."The room, indeed, was strewed with litter of all sorts, rubbish not worth taking away, old newspapers, and odds and ends of every description.Lucy looked about among these for some time, and with an exclamation of satisfaction at last picked up two crumpled envelopes.They were both addressed "William Jenkins, Woodford, near Mount Pleasant.""That is just what I wanted," she said.

"What am you going to do, Miss Lucy?"

"I am going to Mount Pleasant," she said.

"Lor' a marcy, dearie, you are not going to walk that distance! You must have walked twelves miles already.""I should if it were twice as far, Chloe.There are some things we must get.Don't look alarmed, I shall take Dan with me.Now, let me see.In the first place there are lemons for making drink and linseed for poultices, some meat for making broth, and some flour, and other things for ourselves; we may have to stay here for some time.Tell me just what you want and I will get it."Clilce made out a list of necessaries.