"I shall take great pleasure in confounding my enemies should the matter
be brought before a court,--I'm sure if the colonel can stand that sort
of thing I can,--but as for defending myself or anybody else from
utterly unjust and proofless suspicions, it's quite another thing."
"Good God, Jerrold! do you realize what a position you are taking? Do
you--"
"Oh, not at all, captain," was the airy reply, "not at all. It is not a
position I have taken: it is one into which you misguided conspirators
have forced me. I certainly am not required to compromise anybody else
in order to relieve a suspicion which you, not I, have created. How do
you know that there may not be some other woman whose name I propose to
guard? You have been really very flattering in your theories so far."
Armitage could bear no more. The airy conceit and insolence of the man
overcame all self-restraint and resolution. With one bound he was at his
throat, his strong white hands grasping him in a sudden, vice-like grip,
then hurling him with stunning, thundering force to the floor. Down,
headlong, went the tall lieutenant, his sword clattering by his side,
his slim brown hands clutching wildly at anything that might bear him
up, and dragging with him in his catastrophe a rack of hunting-pouches,
antlers, and one heavy double-barrelled shot-gun. All came tumbling down
about the struggling form, and Armitage, glaring down at him with
clinching fists and rasping teeth, had only time to utter one deep-drawn
malediction when he noted that the struggles ceased and Jerrold lay
quite still. Then the blood began to ooze from a jagged cut near the
temple, and it was evident that the hammer of the gun had struck him.
Another moment, and the door opened, and with anxious face Chester
strode into the room. "You haven't killed him, Armitage? Is it as bad as
that?"
"Pick him up, and we'll get him on the bed. He's only stunned. I didn't
even hit him. Those things tumbled afterwards," said Armitage, as
between them they raised the dead weight of the slender Adonis in their
arms and bore him to the bedroom. Here they bathed the wound with cold
water and removed the uniform coat, and presently the lieutenant began
to revive and look about him.
"Who struck me?" he faintly asked.
"Your shot-gun fell on your head, but I threw you down, Jerrold. I'm
sorry I touched you, but you're lucky it was no worse. This thing is
going to raise a big bump here. Shall I send the doctor?"
"No. I'll come round presently. We'll see about this thing afterwards."
"Is there any friend you want to see? Shall I send word to anybody?"
asked Chester.
"No. Don't let anybody come. Tell my striker to bring my breakfast; but
I want nothing to-night but to be let alone."
"At least you will let me help you undress and get to bed?" said
Chester.
"No. I wish you'd go,--both of you. I want quiet,--peace,--and there's
none of it with either of you."
And so they left him. Later Captain Chester had gone to the quarters,
and, after much parleying from without, had gained admission. Jerrold's
head was bound in a bandage wet with arnica and water. He had been
solacing himself with a pipe and a whiskey toddy, and was in a not
unnaturally ugly mood.
"You may consider yourself excused from duty until your face is well
again, by which time this matter will be decided. I admonish you to
remain here and not leave the post until it is."
"You can prefer charges and see what you'll make of it," was the
vehement reply. "Devil a bit will I help you out of the thing, after
this night's work."