He muttered something, turned on his heel, said something to his companions below, and we presently saw them run out of the house.

I went and shut the door.

On returning I saw my uncle was not dead.

Their thinking him so was a mercy, since it gave him a little respite.

He was too weak to be moved, but he begged me to return home and tell what had happened to my parents: adding, as I left him, "Do not make the affair worse than it is." I thought it would be difficult to do that..