第73章

Shock drew a blank sheet toward him and set himself to compose his wire.Again and again he made the attempt, but at length he put down the pen and looked around piteously at his friend."I cannot say it!" he exclaimed in a hurried whisper.

"Come outside a minute," said the Convener, taking his arm."Now tell me what you want to say and perhaps I can help you.""Oh!" cried Shock, wreathing his great fingers an his agony."I want to say goodbye--No, no, not that! I want to tell her--give her my love and say I want to see her.She will be wanting me." His breath began to come in great heaving sobs.

"Let me try," said his friend."You stay out here."After some moments the Convener returned and handed Shock a paper on which he had written: "God keep you, mother dear.My heart's love to you.Shall I come?""Will that do?" he asked.

"Yes, yes; thank you.That is good."

"Now," said the Convener, when they had reached the house, "you must rest.""I am not tired," said Shock, as if in surprise.

"My dear fellow, you are half dead."

"No, I am quite right, and besides, there's Ike.I ought to look after Ike.""Don't you worry about Ike," said the Convener."He's able to look after himself; besides I'll look him up when I get you to sleep.

Come now," and he led him into the tiny bedroom."You get into bed;I'll bring you a cup of tea and you can sleep.No one will disturb you, and, I'll wake you at the right time, never fear.""I don't think I am sleepy," said Shock; but when in a few minutes his friend came back with his cup of tea he found Shock in a sleep so profound that he had not the heart to wake him."Poor chap, poor chap!" said the Convener, looking down upon the strong, rugged face, now so haggard."This is a hard country!"For hours Shock lay dead in sleep.Before nightfall the Convener went to look up Ike, and on his return found his guest still asleep.

"Let him sleep, it will do him good," he said to his kind-hearted wife, who would have wakened Shock to have supper.

"We'll let him sleep till an answer comes to his wire." Late at night he went down to the telegraph office.