Ella Barnwell | Page 8

was too generally
diffused; nor from the fire--it was too gray, and did not flicker; nor
from the moon--it was not silvery enough: from what then did it
proceed? It appeared the most like daylight; but this it could not be, he
reasoned, from the fact that he was wounded just before
night-fall--unless--and the idea seemed to startle him--unless he had
lain in a senseless state for many hours, and it was indeed again
morning. Determined, however, to satisfy himself on this point, he
attempted to rise for the purpose; but found, to his no small surprise
and regret, that he had not even strength sufficient to lift his body from
the bed; and, therefore, that nothing was left him, but to surmise
whatever he chose, until some one should appear to solve the riddle;
which, he doubted not, would be ere long.
While these reflections and surmises were rapidly passing through the
mind of our hero--for such we must acknowledge him to be--he heard
no sound indicating the immediate vicinity of any other human being;
and turning his thoughts upon this latter, he was beginning to doubt
whether, at the moment, he was not the only individual beneath the roof;
when he heard a step, as of some one entering another apartment; and,
directly following, a female voice addressed to some person within.
"Have ye looked to the stranger agin, Ella, and moisted his bandage?"
"I have, mother," was the answer, in a sweet and silvery voice, which
caused our wounded hero to start with a thrill of pleasing astonishment.
"And how appeared he, Ella?" continued the first speaker.
"Why, I thought a little better," answered the same soft, musical voice;

"he seemed asleep, and entirely tranquil."
"God send it, gal, for he's had a tougher, sartin. Three days, now, nater's
bin tugging away for him; and I'd hate to see him die now, arter all; and
being the colonel's recommind, too; for Isaac says the colonel injuncted
him strongly to take car o' him; and I'd do any thing to oblege sech a
man as him. He didn't appear to have his senses, I reckon?"
"I judged not," answered Ella; "though, from his tranquil sleep, I
argued favorably of his case."
"Well," rejoined the other, "it's my opine the crisis is at hand; and that
he'll ayther come out o' this _lethargick_--as they calls it--a rational, or
die straight off. 'Spose you look at him agin, Ella; or, stay, I'll look
myself. Poor feller! how he did rave and run on 'bout his troubles at
home, that's away off, until I all but cried, in reckoning how I'd feel ef
it war Isaac as war going on so.".
As the speaker concluded, she advanced to where the object of her
remarks was lying; and, drawing aside in a gentle manner, some of the
skins near his head, gazed upon him.
As will be surmised by the reader, not a syllable of the foregoing
colloquy had been lost upon Reynolds; who heard, with unbounded
astonishment, of his narrow escape from that dark valley whence none
who enter again return, and that three days had elapsed since he had
fallen into an unconscious state. He learned, too, with regret, that he
had been communicating matters--to what extent he knew not--to
others, which he wished safely locked in his own breast; and judging it
best, in the present instance, to dissemble a little, that his informant
might not be aware of his having overheard her, he feigned to be asleep
on her approach.
"He's sleeping yit, poor creater," continued the hostess, as she bent over
the bed of our hero, until he felt her breath upon his face. "I hope it
arn't a going to be his final sleep--so young, and so handsome too! but,
O dear, thar's no telling what them Injen bullets will do, for folks does
say as how they have a knack o' pizening them, that's orful to tell on! O

Lord o' marcy, Ella, child, do come here!" cried the dame suddenly: "I
do believe he's coming to, for sartin."
This latter speech was occasioned by a movement of the pretended
sleeper, and the gradual opening of his eyes, with the rude stare of
bewildered surprise natural to one in his supposed situation, and such
as he would have exhibited without feigning, had the hostess been
present some ten minutes sooner. Discovering, as already intimated, a
returning consciousness on the part of her guest, the good woman drew
back her head, but still kept her position by the bed, and her eyes fixed
upon him, with an expression which betrayed a fear lest her hopes of
this important event should prove entirely fallacious. Behind her, with
timid step, stole up Ella, and, peeping over her shoulders, encountered
the