Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/240

 overtaken by the same fate, nearly at the same hour; the same hand had possibly accomplished the destruction of uncle and nephew.

"Now, however, I began to entertain a hope that your state might not be irretrievable. You had walked and spoken after the firing was over and your enemies had ceased to contend with you. A wound had no doubt been previously received: I had hastily inferred that the wound was mortal, and that life could not be recalled. Occupied with attention to the wailings of the girl, and full of sorrow and perplexity, I had admitted an opinion which would have never been adopted in different circumstances. My acquaintance with wounds would have taught me to regard sunken muscles, lividness, and cessation of the pulse, as mere indications of a swoon, and not as tokens of death.

"Perhaps my error was not irreparable; by hastening to the hut, I might ascertain your condition, and at least transport your remains to some dwelling, and finally secure to you the decencies of burial.

"Of twelve savages discovered on the preceding day, ten were now killed; two at least remained, after whom the pursuit was still zealously maintained. Attention to the wounded girl had withdrawn me from the party, and I had now leisure to return to the scene of these disasters: the sun had risen, and accompanied by two others I repaired thither.

"A sharp turn in the road, at the entrance of the field, set before us a starting spectacle. An Indian, mangled by repeated wounds of bayonet and bullet, was discovered; his musket was stuck in the ground, by way of beacon attracting our attention to the spot. Over this space I had gone a few hours before, and nothing like this was then seen; the parties abroad had hied away to a distant quarter. Some invisible power seemed to be enlisted in our defence, and to preclude the necessity of our arms.

"We proceeded to the hut: the savages were there; but Edgar had risen and flown! Nothing now seemed to be incredible. You had slain three foes, and the weapon with which the victory had been achieved had vanished;