Chapter XII: Jeduthun Is Grossly Careless

WHEN Eben at last recovered his consciousness, he was lying on his own bed in the mill, with his mother and Jeduthun attending him. He felt very weak and confused, and almost thought he must be dreaming, till he heard Jeduthun say, emphatically, "Praise the Lord! He's coming to himself." Then he roused himself a little more, and drank the contents of the glass which his mother held to his lips.

"What has happened?" said he, faintly. "Oh, I remember now. Did they get the money?"

"No!" replied Jeduthun. "Everything is safe but yourself. Ah! Take care! Don't move!" For Eben had uttered a sharp cry of pain.

"Oh, my knee!" he exclaimed.

"There! Keep still as you can," said Jeduthun. "We've stopped the blood, and Barton has gone over to the Springs for the doctor, but you mustn't move till he comes. If the blood starts again, you are done for."

Eben lay still a few minutes. Then he asked, "What time is it?"

"Just morning. It's getting gray in the east this minute."

"If I could only have got hold of the rope before," said Eben, in a dreaming tone. "I heard them when they first got in, and I was just making a reach for the rope when they stopped me. There were three of them. Did they get away?"

"All but one," replied Jeduthun.

"He mustn't talk any more," said Mrs. Fairchild. "His pulse is nothing now. Keep still, my son, like a good boy!"

"I will!" said Eben. "Only, Jeduthun, if I should die, will you please return Dr. Porter's books, and tell Mr. Francis I did the best I could? He'll scold because the bell-rope wasn't altered, but that wasn't my fault. I read in the spelling book that we shouldn't put off till to-day what could be done to-morrow; or was it the other way?"

"The other way, I guess, but it don't matter," said Jeduthun. "You keep still, and I'll tell the old gentleman all about it. He's kind of wandering in his mind, ma'am," added Jeduthun, in a whisper, in answer to Mrs. Fairchild's look of alarm. "That's nothing strange. Likely enough, he'll be as crazy as a loon before he gets through. I wish the doctor would come."

It was a long hour, with the best speed he could make, before Mr. Barton got back with the doctor. The young surgeon dressed the wound, but looked very grave over it. It was a bad business, and he was afraid the leg would have to be taken off.

"Not if I know it—at least, not till we have had better advice than his'n," said Jeduthun, after the doctor had gone. "Don't you feel too bad, Miss Flora. I've seen more gunshot wounds than ever he did. We'll get Dr. Rose from the Cure; he has been in the army and knows a thing or two, and boss has telegraphed to the old gentleman to bring Dr. Porter over with him. I'd cut a better surgeon out of a pumpkin shell than this fellow, with all his airs. I don't see what Barton got him for."

"Then you don't think there is any danger of Eben's losing his leg?" said Flora, greatly comforted by Jeduthun's contemptuous disparagement of the doctor.

"Well, I wouldn't say there is no danger," was Jeduthun's prudent reply. "It is an ugly business—a wound in the knee—but we shall see when Dr. Rose comes."

"Dr. Green won't like it if we call in any one else," said Flora.

"Then he may give it up," replied Jeduthun, conclusively. "I guess he hain't got a patent-right to all the legs in Lake county! If Green was a real surgeon, he wouldn't be in such a hurry to cut off folks's legs."

Mr. Antis had sent a telegraphic message to Mr. Francis with the first dawn of light, and ten o'clock brought with it the old gentleman, together with Dr. Porter and Dr. Rose from the Cure. Both the young and the old surgeon laughed at the idea of amputation.

"It is a bad wound, and will be a long time in getting well, and I am afraid it is more than likely the knee will be stiff," said Dr. Porter; "but as for the boy's losing his leg, you may put that entirely out of your head, Mrs. Fairchild. I have not the least idea that it will be necessary."

"I'm sure I'm very glad to hear it," said Mrs. Fairchild, wiping her eyes. "Of course we ought not to murmur so long as his life is spared, but it did seem a dreadful thing that my boy should lose his leg. I've thought this morning it might be a judgment on me because I was so fond and proud of him."

"And so you ought to be!" returned the doctor. "That's a heathenish idea, and unworthy of a woman of your good sense. Why do you think the Lord sent you such a son, except that you might be fond and proud of him?"

"I think there is something in that," said Mrs. Fairchild; "but my aunt that partly brought me up used to be always talking about judgments, and about the Lord taking away our idols. I'm sure I never meant to make an idol of Eben; but you see, being all the boy we had, and such a comfort as he always was—But Mr. Fairchild, he thought just as you do. How well I remember," continued Mrs. Fairchild, accepting a pinch from the doctor's snuff-box, "how often I've thought of what Mr. Wilbur said to us when we adopted Eben. 'You'll never have no comfort with him,' says he. 'Adopted children are always a curse. It's flying in the face of Providence,' says he. And Mr. Fairchild, says he, 'Seems to me, neighbour, if Providence puts a destitute orphan child into my hands, and gives me the means to take care of him, it shows pretty plainly that Providence means I should do it,' says he."

"Poor man! He won't have much comfort out of his own son," said Dr. Porter.

"I know it. Ain't it dreadful? And to think, after all Mr. Antis tried to do for him, that he should have acted such a treacherous part! Mr. Antis says Tom came into the bank while he was there and saw him draw the money, so it must have been he that gave information to the robbers. When do you think we can move Eben down home, Dr. Porter?"

"Not for some time yet: it would be a very unsafe operation. I should not allow it even if he were in a good deal less comfortable quarters than he is at present."

"Oh, he's comfortable enough," said Mrs. Fairchild. "The only thing is, it would be so much easier to take care of him. However, everybody is very kind, and Jeduthun would do anything for Eben, so I guess we shall make out pretty well, after all."

Mr. Antis had rather dreaded the meeting with Mr. Francis. His own conscience reproached him sorely about neglecting, or rather putting off, the alteration in the bell-rope, which would have saved all the trouble, and he had not the least idea what Mr. Francis might say or do about the matter. However, as Jeduthun said, there never was any knowing where to have the old gentleman, and if he was just as likely to be in a bad humour as a good one, why the chances were even the other way.

"We won't say any more about the matter, Mr. Antis," said he as Mr. Antis expressed his regret. "You have been invariably faithful to my interests hitherto, and I can overlook such a matter as this, I hope, especially as I have lost nothing, thanks to young Fairchild's bravery."

"That is the worst of it," said Mr. Antis. "I could have made up the loss of the money, but to think that the poor boy must suffer from my neglect."

"It is sad indeed," said Mr. Francis gravely, as Mr. Antis stopped and turned away. "No occasion to hide your feelings, Mr. Antis. They do you credit, sir."

"I am sure it will be a lesson to me all my life," said Mr. Antis, striving to regain his composure.

"We will let it be a lesson to all of us. How is the poor boy?"

"Dr. Green thought the leg would have to be taken off, but Dr. Porter and Dr. Bose say that will not be necessary. He cannot be moved, however, and they say he may have a stiff knee."

"Poor little fellow! It is a wonder he escaped with his life. Let him have every possible comfort, Mr. Antis, and spare no expense. Perhaps, as you say he cannot be moved, you had better fit up another room for his mother. I must see the good woman before I go."

"Perhaps you will look in on Eben, sir?" said Mr. Antis. "He is a little disturbed in mind, and fears you will think he neglected his duty."

"Certainly, certainly. Poor child! It is hard to see how he could do more."

"There! Don't say any more about it, Fairchild," said Mr. Francis, as Eben strove to explain to him why he had not given the alarm sooner. "You did the very best you could—the best anybody could have done. Don't excite yourself about it any more. I am perfectly satisfied with you, Fairchild—more than satisfied: I am very much pleased. You justify all the confidence I have placed in you, and I had a good opinion of you, from the first time I saw you."

"I told you so," whispered Jeduthun to Mr. Antis in the shadow of the door. "I knew the old gentleman would think he had made the boy."

"Never mind, let him think so," whispered Mr. Antis in return.

"They tell me you will have to stay here," continued Mr. Francis. "You must let them make you comfortable, and you also, madam," bowing as he spoke to Mrs. Fairchild. "Call for everything you want. But I see the doctor is longing to throw me out of the window, so I will go. I repeat I am pleased with you, Fairchild. If you were my own son, I could not have wished you to do better than you have done."

"Eben always was a comfort," said Mrs. Fairchild through the tears which had come in response to Mr. Francis's praises of Eben. "Mr. Fairchild said he would be, the very first week we had him, and he always has been."

"I just want to say one word to Mr. Francis, ma, if you will please to go away a minute," said Eben. "Mr. Francis," he continued when they were alone together, "if I should die, will you see to mother and Flora and take care of them?"

"You must not talk of dying, my boy," said Mr. Francis, kindly. "I trust you will be spared many years yet."

"I hope so too," returned Eben, "but yet people do die of gunshot wounds, you know, and it will not happen any more for talking about it. I am not at all afraid to die, but I should feel easier in my mind if I knew that they would be cared for."

"I understand," said Mr. Francis. "Make yourself easy, my son. Your mother shall be my care as much as if she were my own, and your sister also; and I am glad to see that your mind is so collected and settled. God bless you!"

Mr. Francis actually stooped and kissed Eben's forehead, and then hastily retired. He was met outside by Jeduthun.

"I think, sir, we had better raise the gate and let off the water," said he.

"Why so?" asked Mr. Francis.

"Why, you see—step this way, if you please, sir—that man I shot last night jumped right into the pond. I've been round the other side, and there's no sign of his having got out anywhere. He wasn't in a very good state to swim, neither, especially in ice water."

Mr. Francis recoiled in horror. "You don't think you killed him, do you?"

"Looks a good deal like it. If I didn't, the water finished him, I do expect, but I meant to hit him, and I guess I did."

"But a fellow-creature!"

"Well, Mr. Antis is a fellow-creature too, ain't he?" asked Jeduthun.

"To be sure!" replied Mr. Francis, recovering himself a little. "I don't mean to blame you, Jeduthun. You did right, of course, but, then, human life is so sacred."

"Some human lives is sacreder than others, seems to me," argued Jeduthun, "and the boss's is a heap more sacred to ma than a fellow's like that. I suppose I feel different from you, Mr. Francis. That's only natural. I've been in battle, you see. Of course I wouldn't take no man's life without reason, but I can't think so much of what I did last night as you would. But how about the water? It won't be much to let it off, you know."

"Let it off, of course."

"And what's to be done with that other fellow, Tom Wilbur? I feel kind of sorry for him. He's only a boy, and a most uncommon foolish boy at that."

Mr. Francis hesitated and wiped his glasses.

"I feel sorry for him, and that's the truth!" continued Jeduthun. "Here's been his poor old father and mother crying over him like everything. He never had no sense, nor no bringing up, and you know if he goes to state's prison, as he'll have to, that will be the end of him."

"True!" said Mr. Francis. "I am sorry for him as well as you. I suppose these fellows got him into their power, and he thought he could not help himself. However, I don't see but he must stand his trial—unless, indeed, he should escape," added the old gentleman, looking calmly at Jeduthun, "and of course you will take care of that."

"Yes, sir, I'll take care," said Jeduthun, with equal gravity. "I suppose they'll be after him before long."

"Not before the five-thirty train, I should think. You might drive him over to Shortsville, Jeduthun, and I could telegraph the officers to meet you there. It would save a scene here."

The water was let off the pond in the course of the morning, and to everybody's horror, the bodies of both the robbers were found. It seemed as though the unwounded man had tried to help the other, and being caught in the death grasp of the drowning man, had sunk to rise no more. One of them was recognized as the keeper of a low saloon and gambling hole in Hobartown. The other was unknown, and had probably come from a distance.

Somehow or other, during the ride to Shortsville, Tom Wilbur managed to make his escape, and was never caught again. Mr. Francis, on being apprised of the circumstance on Jeduthun's return, remarked that there must have been gross carelessness on his part, and gave him five dollars.

"After all, I am not so very sorry," added Mr. Francis, in a musing tone. "He was but young, and this may be a lesson to him."

"It may be a lesson to him, but he won't learn it," said Jeduthun, accepting the reproof and its accompaniment with due humility. "When a fellow makes 'it isn't pleasant' a reason for not doing anything that ought to be done, he won't never come to much."