his perilous proximity to the swamp； as well as the fact that he
was beginning to incline towards that dread circle which is the
hopeless instinct of all lost and straying humanity。 Luckily the
edge of the swamp was more open； and he would be enabled to correct
his changed course again by the position of the stars。 But he was
becoming chilled and exhausted by these fruitless efforts； and at
length； after a more devious and prolonged detour； which brought
him back to the swamp again； he resolved to skirt its edge in
search of some other mode of issuance。 Beyond him； the light
seemed stronger； as of a more extended opening or clearing； and
there was even a superficial gleam from the end of the swamp
itself； as if from some ignis fatuus or the glancing of a pool of
unbroken water。 A few rods farther brought him to it and a full
view of the unencumbered expanse。 Beyond him； far across the
swamp； he could see a hillside bathed in the moonlight with
symmetrical lines of small white squares dotting its slopes and
stretching down into a valley of gleaming shafts； pyramids； and
tombs。 It was the cemetery； the white squares on the hillside were
the soldiers' graves。 And among them even at that distance；
uplifting solemnly； like a reproachful phantom； was the broken
shaft above the dust of Chester Brooks。
With the view of that fateful spot； which he had not seen since his
last meeting there with Sally Dows； a flood of recollection rushed
upon him。 In the white mist that hung low along the farther edge
of the swamp he fancied he could see again the battery smoke
through which the ghostly figure of the dead rider had charged his
gun three years before； in the vapory white plumes of a funereal
plant in the long avenue he was reminded of the light figure of
Miss Sally as she appeared at their last meeting。 In another
moment； in his already dazed condition； he might have succumbed to
some sensuous memory of her former fascinations； but he threw it
off savagely now； with a quick and bitter recalling of her deceit
and his own weakness。 Turning his back upon the scene with a half…
superstitious tremor； he plunged once more into the trackless
covert。 But he was conscious that his eyesight was gradually
growing dim and his strength falling。 He was obliged from time to
time to stop and rally his sluggish senses； that seemed to grow
heavier under some deadly exhalation that flowed around him。 He
even seemed to hear familiar voices；but that must be delusion。
At last he stumbled。 Throwing out an arm to protect himself； he
came heavily down upon the ooze； striking a dull； half…elastic root
that seemedit must have been another delusionto move beneath
him； and evenso confused were his senses nowto strike back
angrily upon his prostrate arm。 A sharp pain ran from his elbow to
shoulder and for a moment stung him to full consciousness again。
There were voices surely；the voices of their former pursuers！ If
they were seeking to revenge themselves upon him for Cato's escape；
he was ready for them。 He cocked his revolver and stood erect。 A
torch flashed through the wood。 But even at that moment a film
came over his eyes； he staggered and fell。
An interval of helpless semi…consciousness ensued。 He felt himself
lifted by strong arms and carried forward； his arm hanging
uselessly at his side。 The dank odor of the wood was presently
exchanged for the free air of the open field； the flaming pine…knot
torches were extinguished in the bright moonlight。 People pressed
around him； but so indistinctly he could not recognize them。 All
his consciousness seemed centred in the burning； throbbing pain of
his arm。 He felt himself laid upon the gravel； the sleeve cut from
his shoulder； the cool sensation of the hot and bursting skin bared
to the night air； and then a soft； cool； and indescribable pressure
upon a wound he had not felt before。 A voice followed；high；
lazily petulant； and familiar to him； and yet one he strove in vain
to recall。
〃De Lawdy…Gawd save us； Miss Sally！ Wot yo' doin' dah？ Chile！
Chile！ Yo' 'll kill yo'se'f； shuah！〃
The pressure continued； strange and potent even through his pain；
and was then withdrawn。 And a voice that thrilled him said：
〃It's the only thing to save him！ Hush； ye chattering black crow！
Say anything about this to a living soul； and I'll have yo'
flogged！ Now trot out the whiskey bottle and pour it down him。〃
CHAPTER VII。
When Courtland's eyes opened again； he was in bed in his own room
at Redlands； with the vivid morning sun occasionally lighting up
the wall whenever the closely drawn curtains were lightly blown
aside by the freshening breeze。 The whole events of the night
might have been a dream but for the insupportable languor which
numbed his senses； and the torpor of his arm； that； swollen and
discolored； lay outside the coverlet on a pillow before him。
Cloths that had been wrung out in iced water were replaced upon it
from time to time by Sophy； Miss Dows' housekeeper； who； seated
near his bedhead； was lazily fanning him。 Their eyes met。
〃Broken？〃 he said interrogatively； with a faint return of his old
deliberate manner； glancing at his helpless arm。
〃Deedy no； cunnle！ Snake bite；〃 responded the negress。
〃Snake bite！〃 repeated Courtland with languid interest； 〃what
snake？〃
〃Moccasin o' copperheadif you doun know yo'se'f which；〃 she
replied。 〃But it's all right now； honey！ De pizen's draw'd out
and clean gone。 Wot yer feels now is de whiskey。 De whiskey
STAYS； sah。 It gets into de lubrications of de skin； sah； and has
to be abso'bed。〃
Some faint chord of memory was touched by the girl's peculiar
vocabulary。
〃Ah；〃 said Courtland quickly； 〃you're Miss Dows' Sophy。 Then you
can tell me〃
〃Nuffin； sah absomlutely nuffin！〃 interrupted the girl； shaking her
head with impressive official dignity。 〃It's done gone fo'bid by
de doctor！ Yo' 're to lie dar and shut yo'r eye； honey；〃 she
added； for the moment reverting unconsciously to the native
maternal tenderness of her race； 〃and yo' 're not to bodder yo'se'f
ef school keeps o' not。 De medical man say distinctly； sah；〃 she
concluded； sternly recalling her duty again； 〃no conversation wid
de patient。〃
But Courtland had winning ways with all dependents。 〃But you will
answer me ONE question； Sophy； and I'll not ask another。 Has〃he
hesitated in his still uncertainty as to the actuality of his
experience and its probable extent〃hasCatoescaped？〃
〃If yo' mean dat sassy； bull…nigger oberseer of yo'se； cunnle； HE'S
safe； yo' bet！〃 returned Sophy sharply。 〃Safe in his own quo'tahs
night afo' las'； after braggin' about the bloodhaowns he killed；
and safe ober the county line yes'day moan'in； after kicking up all
dis rumpus。 If dar is a sassy； highfalutin' nigger I jiss 'spises
its dat black nigger Cato o' yo'se！ Now；〃relenting〃yo' jiss
wink yo' eye； honey； and don't excite yo'se'f about sach black
trash； drap off to sleep comfor'ble。 Fo' you do'an get annuder
word out o' Sophy； shuah！〃
As if in obedience； Courtland closed his eyes。 But even in his
weak state he was conscious of the blood coming into his cheek at
Sophy's relentless criticism of the man for whom he had just
periled his life and position。 Much of it he felt was true； but
how far had he been a dupe in his quixotic defense of a quarrelsome
blusterer and cowardly bully？ Yet there was the unmistakable shot
and cold…blooded attempt at Cato's assassination！ And there were
the bloodhounds sent to track the unfortunate man！ That was no
dreambut a brutal inexcusable fact！
The medical practitioner of Redlands he remembered was conservative；
old…fashioned； and diplomatic。 But his sympathies had been
broadened by some army experiences； and Courtland trusted to some
soldierly and frank exposition of the matter from him。 Nevertheless；
Dr。 Maynard was first healer； and； like Sophy； professionally
cautious。 The colonel had better not talk about it now。 It was
already two days old； the colonel had been nearly forty…eight hours
in bed。 It was a regrettable affair； but the natural climax of
long…continued political and racial irritationand not without
GREAT provocation！ Assassination was a strong word； could Colonel
Courtland swear that Cato was actually AIMED AT； or was it not
merely a demonstration to frighten a bullying negro？ It might have
been necessary to teach him a lessonwhich the colonel by this time
ought to know could only be taught to these inferior races by FEAR。
The bloodhounds！ Ah； yes！well； the bloodhounds were； in fact；
only a part of that wholesome discipline。 Surely Colonel Courtland
was not so foolish as to believe that； even in the old slave…holding
days； planters sent dogs after runaways to mangle and destroy THEIR
OWN PROPERTY？ They might as well； at once； let them escape！ No；
sir！ They were used only to frighten and drive the niggers out of
swamps； brakes； and hiding…placesas no nigger had ever dared to
face 'em。 Cato might lie as much as he liked； but everybody knew
WHO it was that killed Major Reed's hounds。 Nobody blamed the
colonel for it；not even Major Reed；but if the colonel had lived
a little longer in the South； he'd have known it wasn't necessary to
do that in self…preservation； as the hounds would never have gone
for a white man。 But that was not a matter for the colonel to bother
about NOW。 He was doing well； he had slept nearly thirty hours；
there was no fever； he must continue to doze off the exhaustion of
his powerful stimulant； and he； the doctor； would return later in
the afternoon。
Perhaps it was his very inability to grasp in that exhausted state
the full comprehension of the doctor's meaning； perhaps because the
physical benumbing of his brain was stronger than any mental
excitement； but he slept again until the doctor reappeared。
〃You're doing well enough now； colonel；〃 said the physician； after
a brief examination of his patient； 〃and I think we can afford to
wake you up a bit； and even let you move your arm。 You're luckier
than poor Tom Higbee； who won't be able to set his leg to the floor
for three weeks to come。 I haven't got all the buckshot out of it
y