TEE TEXAN HUNTEESS. 317 



proportioned to his physical strength, that his recovery must 

 be very slow, if it come at all. Young man, I have dedi- 

 cated my life ■without stint or reservation to him, and although 

 it is impossible for me yet to tell the extent of the injuries I 

 have received, yet I must not stop to regard them — I must 

 win that glorious mind back to the world again, cost what it 

 will to me. I count myself as nothing weighed in the scale 

 with his usefulness. He must be saved at any rate, to finish 

 his great work ! I saved your life — a lost wanderer, beaten 

 down by the tempest — helpless, bewildered, wounded and for- 

 lorn — and now all that I ask of you is, help to save 7iim ! 

 Make no remonstrances !" — as I was proceeding to deprecate 

 the disregard of self she spoke of, — " make no remonstrances, 

 my son!" she said mournfully — "I must require it of you 

 not to interfere with — but obey me — for the time. I cannot 

 be moved — I will nurse him — you must provide us with food 

 and water in the meanwhile. I want no farther assistance. 

 I know him best — you can render no assistance to him per- 

 sonally. God only knows how far this ugly hurt of mine 

 may prove injurious. I will be careful of it for his sake, at 

 least!" ^ 



" I promise to obey you. I feel that I owe my life to joti^ 

 and I will cheerfully resign it to serve you or your husband !" 



" I knew as much, my child ! — I knew as much — and it 

 was selfish of me to remind you of obligation when you hadi!%,^ 

 already more than trebly repaid whatever there might be, W^ y "<*^* 

 saving that dear body which lies so placid there, from the ' ♦ 

 defacing hands of those murderous brutes — who, as with those 

 who stoned the Prophet of old — knew not what they did ! — • 

 But it is no selfish anxiety for self that has thus m^de me 

 forget what was due to hospitality — it was for him ! — for his 

 dear life ! — I spoke so eagerly, forgetting all things else ! — ■ 

 come, let us placje him on the poor bed !" 



We immediately removed him to his place upon a raised 

 couch of dried moss and leaves, covered with skins, which had 



