The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1895-07-11
CHAPTER XIX.

When Private Brown rcgaincd con-
sciousncss he found himself lying on a
cot in the hospital, with the post sur
geon bending over him.
How do you feel now, my man?" the
doctor asked, kindly.
Very weak and faint, sir. How
came here? What is the matter with
me?"
You have been very sick, Brown.
Can you not recall the past? Do you
not remember being wounded by the
Indians?"
Wounded? The Indians? What In
dians?" He looked up at the surgeon
in astonishment
Try to remember. Ace II you cannot
recall your desperate fight with the In
dinns from behind the rocks"
Brown closed his eyes and endeavored
to collect his truant thoughts. Slowly,
family and indistinctly at first, but
growing clearer and clearer as his de-
lirium-prostrated brain regained power,
the rescue, the desperate ride for life
and the battle all came back to him.
"Oh! tell me, doctor, was she-was
Alice saved?"
Calm yourself, my boy. The least
excitement may yet undo all my work
in my efforts to save you, Miss Sanford
is safe with her father"
God be praised" he fervently said,
! great tears of joy starting in his pain
dimmed eyes. How long have / been
here, doctor?'
For four days You have been de-
lirious all that time and very near to
death, but you have now passed the
crisis and there is a good chance for
| your recovery. You are built of good
material, Brown. That shot would
have killed any ordinary man"
And Alice, doctor, Miss Sanford,
has she been to see me?'
"Bcen here to see you, indeed? Why
the little witch win scarcely take time
to eat and sleep, but wants to sit here
by your side all the time. The young
lady is filled with gratitude toward
| you. Brown, for Your heroism in rescu-
| ing her from horrible fate, and the
whole garrison is singing your praises
| 1t was brave undertaking, my boy
u noble, heroic venture successfully ac-
! complished"
A smile of qualification spread over
! his pale, wan face. lie cared not for
! the laudations of the people of the gar
rison. His Alice had been near him,
| and that was worth more to him than
would have been the plaudits of the
universe.
HAS Col. Sanford asked after me,
| doctor?" There was an eager look on
his face as he put the question.
Col Sanford calls to see you several
| times a day, Brown. You cannot real
ize the dangerous position in which
your care places me. The colonel has
! given me the most emphatic orders to
/ save your life, and says If let you die
/ he will at once have me taken out and
shot. Now you see the peril which
confronts me, and you must do all you
can to hasten your recovery by implic-
lilly obeying my orders. You must not
speak another word. You have talked
too much already. You must remem-
Der my life is at stake, my man"
lie smiled knowingly as he referred
TO the colonels clustering threat.
There was smile of perfect peace and
satisfaction on the pale face of the
/ wounded man as he closed his eyes to
reflect over what the surgeon had told
him. Alice was with him almost con-
stantly, and, of course, it must be
with her fathers consent And the old
commander, himself, called several
times daily 10 ask after him. This
knowledge was sweet to his soul, and
he felt supremely happy Gradually
his senses grew more and more in
active. and he soon sank into sweet,
refreshing sleep, the first since he had
been brought into the hospital. The
surgeon bent over him and noted his
strong, regular breathing, and softly
felt his pulse.
Excellent Excellent" he said 10
himself Brown, my brave boy, you
are worth a whole regiment of dead
men yet"
When Col. Sanford found his
daughter once more safe in her home,
he acted in a manner that at times
almost made her fear he was losing his
reason. lie would cali her many times