His face was to the ground; after a while he was still.

In alarm the widow stooped over him: she feared that he had given up his last breath; but the candle-light showed him shaken by a sob, as it seemed to her, though she could scarce believe it of this manly fellow.

Yet it proved true; she saw the very tears.

He was crying at his helplessness.
"Oh, my darling boy!" she burst out; "what have they done to ye?
the cowards they are! but do now have pity on a woman, and let me get some creature to lift you to a bed, dear.

And don't flap at me with your hand like a bird that's shot.