Captain Eri, worried, afraid to think of the fire and its cause, and
only anxious to ascertain where his friend was and what he had been
doing that night, trotted through the pasture and over the hill. Just
as he came to the bayberry bushes on the other side he stumbled and fell
flat.

He knew what it was that he had stumbled over the moment that he fell
across it, and his fingers trembled, so that he could scarcely scratch
the match that he took from his pocket. But it was lighted at last and,
as its tiny blaze grew brighter, the Captain saw John Baxter lying face
downward in the path, his head pointed toward his home and his feet
toward the billiard saloon.



CHAPTER VII

CAPTAIN ERI FINDS A NURSE


For a second, only, Captain Eri stood there motionless, stooping over
the body of his friend. Then he sprang into vigorous action. He dropped
upon his knees and, seizing the shoulder of the prostrate figure,
shook it gently, whispering, "John! John!" There was no answer and no
responsive movement, and the Captain bent his head and listened. Breath
was there and life; but, oh, so little of either! The next thought was,
of course, to run for help and for a doctor, but he took but a few steps
when a new idea struck him and he came back.

Lighting another match he examined the fallen man hurriedly. The old