The Eagle's Shadow

  XXVII

  But Billy was not dead. There was still a feeble, jerky fluttering inhis big chest when Colonel Hugonin found him. His heart still moved,but under the Colonel's hand its stirrings were vague and aimless asthose of a captive butterfly.

  The Colonel had seen dead men and dying men before this; and as hebent over the boy he loved he gave a convulsive sob, and afterwardburied his face in his hands.

  Then--of all unlikely persons in the world--it was PetheridgeJukesbury who rose to meet the occasion.

  His suavity and blandness forgotten in the presence of death, hemounted with confident alacrity to heights of greatness. Masterfully,he overrode them all. He poured brandy between Billy's teeth. Then heordered the ladies off to bed, and recommended to Mr. Kennaston--whenthat gentleman spoke of a clergyman--a far more startling destination.

  For, "It is far from my intention," said Mr.

  Jukesbury, "to appear lacking in respect to the cloth, but--er--justat present I am inclined to think we are in somewhat greater need of amattress and a doctor and--ah--the exercise of a little common-sense.The gentleman is--er--let us hope, in no immediate danger."

  "How dare you suggest such a thing, sir?" thundered PetheridgeJukesbury. "Didn't you see that poor girl's face? I tell you I'll bedamned if he dies, sir!"

  And I fancy the recording angel heard him, and against a list of wordycheats registered that oath to his credit.

  It was Petheridge Jukesbury, then, who stalked into Mrs. Haggage'sapartments and appropriated her mattress as the first at hand, andafterward waddled through the gardens bearing it on his fat shoulders,and still later lifted Billy upon it as gently as a woman could have.But it was the hatless Colonel on his favourite Black Bess ("Damn yourmotor-cars!" the Colonel was wont to say; "I consider my appearancesufficiently unprepossessing already, sir, without my arriving inHeaven in fragments and stinking of gasoline!") who in Fairhaven town,some quarter of an hour afterward, leaped Dr. Jeal's garden fence, andsubsequently bundled the doctor into his gig; and again yet later itwas the Colonel who stood fuming upon the terrace with Dr. Jeal on hisway to Selwoode indeed, but still some four miles from the mansiontoward which he was urging his staid horse at its liveliest gait.

  Kennaston tried to soothe him. But the Colonel clamoured to theheavens. Kennaston he qualified in various ways. And as for Dr. Jeal,he would hold him responsible--"personally, sir"--for the consequencesof his dawdling in this fashion--"Damme, sir, like a damn' snail witha wooden leg!"

  "I am afraid," said Kennaston, gravely, "that the doctor will be ofvery little use when he does arrive."

  There was that in his face which made the Colonel pause in hisobjurgations.

  "Sir," said the Colonel, "what--do--you--mean?" He found articulationsomewhat difficult.

  "In your absence," Kennaston answered, "Mr. Jukesbury, who itappears knows something of medicine, has subjected Mr. Woods to anexamination. It--it would be unkind to deceive you----"

  "Come to the point, sir," the Colonel interrupted him. "What--doyou--mean?"

  "I mean," said Felix Kennaston, sadly, "that--he is afraid--Mr. Woodswill never recover consciousness."

  Colonel Hugonin stared at him. The skin of his flabby, wrinkled oldthroat was working convulsively.

  Then, "You're wrong, sir," the Colonel said. "Billy _shan't_ die. DamnJukesbury! Damn all doctors, too, sir! I put my trust in my God, sir,and not in a box of damn' sugar-pills, sir. And I tell you, sir, _thatboy is not going to die_."

  Afterward he turned and went into Selwoode defiantly.