224 , 
SCENES IN INDIA. 
pea., and a thin stream of blood trickled tardily 
from it. The ball had passed into his body between 
the ribs. Minute as the wound appeared., it never- 
theless had a certain aspect of fatality which I can- 
not describe. This was probably the effect of asso- 
ciation a priori, the immediate effect produced height- 
ening and aggravating the cause. 
From the first moment I saw the unhappy young 
man borne helpless from his palenkeen, and heard that 
his extremities were paralysed from a shot through 
the body, I had no hope. When the surgeon quitted 
his tent, he confirmed this impression, stating that 
the patient could not live forty-eight hours. I looked 
upon the prostrate man as he lay panting upon his 
bed, and my heart rose to my throat with such a 
fierce and indomitable impulse of emotion, that I 
thought I must have choked : I was relieved by a 
flood of tears. Suppressing my distress, I approached 
the couch. The wounded youth grasped my hand 
firmly, and said — ef My friend, I am dying; I feel 
that the streams of life are cut off from the fountain, 
which must soon cease to flow. I already seem to 
be more than half dead ; for I have no feeling below 
my heart. My sensations are too ominous to be mis- 
taken : it is time my peace were made with Heaven, 
where I am shortly to appear ; but with what result ! 
Well, I have brought this upon myself ; it is the 
just penalty of my rashness.” Such were his expres- 
sions, as near as I can recollect them; and though 
many years have elapsed since they were uttered, they 
nevertheless seem to rise as vividly to my memory as 
