THE TEXAN HUNTRESS. 323 



"And wliat is that?" 



" Why, you perceive that the woman is out of her head, — 

 has a brain fever. She suffers from her wound, her anxiety 

 for her husband, and the additional excitement of the late 

 conflict, that is all !" 



"What shall we do?" he asked, in dismay, as it became 

 every moment more difficult to keep her down. 



" I must call the negros back, — for I can be of little assist- 

 ance to you!" 



" The stupid fools ! — you can't get them to come back !'' 



"Yes I can !" and seizing his rifle, I hobbled to the door 

 and looked out. Tom was the only one in sight. I shouted 

 to him, ordering his return. The fellow shook his head, and 

 looked furtively askance towards me. I instantly raised the 

 rifle, and, as I brought it to bear upon him, peremptorily 

 ordered his return, under penalty of a ball through hiswooUy 

 head. The habit of obedience conquered his fears in a mea- 

 sure, and he came back with a slow, unwilling step. 



" Why, you cowardly rascal !" I said, in an angry and con- 

 temptuous tone, which I thought might sting and rouse his 

 pride, — for I knew he was really a brave fellow, but super- 

 stitious, as were all his class, — "I thought you had some 

 manhood in you, — a great big lubber like you to run away 

 from a sick and wounded woman ! I am ashamed of you, Tom. 

 Come in here, your master needs you to help him hold her !" 



" Dat ! — dat ! — dat ! — no woman, Massa !" He stammered 

 hesitatingly, as he looked up humbly for a moment. " Dat 

 witch, — she make poor nigger die like rotten sheep if he 

 touch um !" 



" I tell you, you fool, the woman is no witch ; she is a 

 good woman, and has a bad fever, and does not know what 

 she is doing !" 



" But, Massa, what all dat conjure-wheels do dar if she am 

 no witch?" he persisted, in a more cheerful voice, but still 

 hanging back. 



