318 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 



heretofore been resigned to me. As we laid Mm down, his 

 j)ulsation evidently quickened, but liis eyes were still un- 

 opened, and liis limbs remained palsied. I brought water 

 from the spring, which I freely used under the directions of 

 the woman, who by this time had become too faint for farther 

 exertion. The only immediate effect was a partial one, even 

 with our slight expectation. He breathed still more freely, 

 and slightly moved his head. I now had to apply the same 

 remedy to herself, and soon had the satisfaction, after using 

 the cold water freely, and enveloping her in skins, of which 

 there was a large quantity piled on a sort of garret scaffolding 

 near the roof, to see her fall into a deep but troubled sleep. 

 I enveloped his body in much the same way, and then had 

 leisure to look about me, and find what store of provision we 

 had on hand. 



I was greatly disappointed to find but little venison or 

 meat of any kind stored in the house, and this filled me with 

 uneasiness, for I did not yet feel myself strong enough to 

 hunt, and could not help dwelHng upon the frightful fate 

 before us in the event of my wound proving worse than I an- 

 ticipated. I did what I could for it until the most resistless 

 drowsiness overtook me, and falling upon a pile of skins, I 

 sunk into the deep sleep consequent upon extreme excitement 

 and loss of .blood. 



I was waked by the shrill cries of the woman, and, as I 

 sprang to my teet was horrified to perceive from the flushed ap- 

 pearance of her face, her wild ejaculations and even screams, 

 that she was suffering from a raging brain fever. She tossed 

 her body violently to and fro, moaning as she pressed her 

 throbbing head convulsively between her hands, and occasion- 

 ally shrieking at the top of her voice incoherently. It was a 

 melancholy sight, indeed. I knew but one remedy in reach ; 

 and if there had been a thousand, perhaps none would have 

 availed so well as the simple one to which I now resorted, 

 almost upon compulsion ! I hobbled to the spring for a fresh 



