to Riches, "come, we must not leave him here to die, poor fellow. Take
off his neck-handkerchief, Harcourt, and run you, Riches, to the stream
close by, where we first sat down, and get some water. Get it in your
cap, man, you have nothing else to put it in. Quick! quick!"

"Joe! Joe!" said John, "only speak, only look, Joe, if you can, we are
so frightened."--No answer.

"Joe!" said Fred, and he tried to raise him. No assistance and no
resistance; Joe fell back passive on the arm of his friend, yes,
friend--they were no longer enemies you know. Had Fred returned evil for
evil, had he rushed on him as he first intended when he received the sod
from White, he would not have felt as he now did. The boys, who, out of
mischief, to use the mildest word, tempted him to climb to a height,
beyond that which even they themselves could have accomplished, were not
to be envied in _their_ feelings. Poor fellows, and yet they only did
what many a reckless, mischievous school boy has done and is doing every
day; they only meant to tease him a bit, to pay him off for being so
spiteful all the way, and so cross to Fred when he spoke. But it was no
use trying to still the voice which spoke loudly within them, which told
them that they had acted with heartless cruelty, and that their conduct
had, perhaps, cost a fellow-creature his life.

"Will you wait with him whilst I run to L---- for papa?" said Fred.

"What alone?" they cried.

"Alone! why there are four of you, will be at least when Riches comes
back."