"He didn't appear to know me, and his head seems all kicked in." It was not apparent how the news went round, but in a few more minutes Dane was kneeling beside a limp, blackened object stretched amid the grass, and while his comrades clustered behind her, Maud Barrington bent over him.

Her voice was breathless as she asked, "You don't believe him dead ?" Somebody had brought a lantern, and Dane felt inclined to gasp when he saw the girl's white face, but what she felt was not his business then.
"He's of a kind that is very hard to kill.

Hold that lantern so I can see him," he said.
The rest waited silent, glad that there was somebody to take a lead, and in a few moments Dane looked round again.
"Ride in to the settlement, Stapleton, and bring that Doctor fellow out if you bring him by the neck.

Stop just a moment.

You don't know where you're to bring him to." "Here, of course," said the lad, breaking into a run.
"Wait," and Dane's voice stopped him.