Page:Old ninety-nine's cave.djvu/84

 "I think it will."

"Granny will feel dreadfully if I don't do something," she thought. "There, I have it, I'll go for Reuben!"

"Reuben!" she whispered at his door, which was always ajar, "I think Mr. Hernando is sick. The boneset tea didn't do him any good."

"Very well, honey, jes' yo' go to bed, I'se comin'," he answered cheerily.

In a few seconds he was beside Hernando, bringing as he invariably did, relief. Gradually Hernando's shivering grew less, then finally ceased altogether and at last he fell asleep only to mutter in delirium which grew wild and wilder. Hour after hour passed yet that faithful black figure met every emergency as it came. Again and again were the heated pillows turned, was the wild call for "water! water!" answered, his every need anticipated, and time sped for both patient and nurse.

"Five o'clock," thought Reuben, as he returned from replenishing the fire. His