When Dutch recovered his senses, it was to find his head resting in his
wife's lap, and the doctor busily engaged in bandaging his wounds, and
as the misty sense of wonder passed off, a feeling of thankfulness came
upon him, and he pressed the little soft hand that held his, for his
great horror had been lest Hester should have fallen into Laure's hands.
The joy he felt was heightened, too, by seeing Bessy Studwick there as
well, busily attending her father, and then going from one to the other,
carrying water, for the heat was terrible, and the wounds caused a
thirst that was almost maddening. But, painful as they were, not one
man had received mortal injury, and the doctor's words were more healing
even than his bandages.
Some hours passed, and then the cabin door was opened, and food and
water carried in by three of the men; and then, with Laure fully armed
behind him, came 'Pollo, who with swab and pail was ordered to remove
the blood that liberally besprinkled the cabin floor.
His lips parted to speak, as he was at work where Oakum sat up with
bandaged head, contentedly chewing his tobacco; but a significant motion
of the Cuban's hands made him turn hastily away.