John’s finger was upon Mr. Somers’s wrist.  “It will break my mother’s heart”, he said, in the same hoarse whisper.  At that moment, Dr. Wright’s voice was heard.  He placed himself, without a word, upon the grass, looked at the pale face, unfastened the dripping garments, thrust his hand in beneath them, and laid it upon the young man’s heart.

“He is dead!” said Dr. Wright.  “Friends, get a bit of canvas and a blanket and take him to some house, till day breaks”.

John, stupefied with horror and grief, still knelt by Mr. Somers, chafing his hands and wringing the water from his wet garments.  At length, Mr. Dubois gently roused him from his task, telling him they would now remove their friend to a house, where he might be properly cared for.

“Let me lift him”, said Micah to the young man.  But John shook his head and stooping, raised Mr. Somers and laid him on the canvas as gently as if he were a sleeping infant.

Mr. Dubois, the missionary, John, and Micah conveyed the precious charge.  The Doctor, with Mrs. Dubois and Adele followed in melancholy silence.  The crowd came behind.  The terrific events of the night had made the people quiet, thoughtful, and sympathetic.

Once, after the prolonged, clinging gaze of each upon the face of the sleeper, the eyes of the missionary and John met.

“My dear young man”, said Mr. Norton, in a low, emphatic voice, “God has taken him in mercy.  The dear friend whom we loved, is himself satisfied, I doubt not.  May the Eternal Father grant us all at the end of our course here a like blessed deliverance.  Amen”.

John looked in the good man’s face, as if he but half understood his words, and fixed his eyes again upon Mr. Somers.

At length, the party reached a house near the river bank, where they deposited the dead.

Mrs. McNab, who had followed close on their footsteps, when they reached the door, drew Adele aside and said,

“Naw, Miss Ady, I want the preevaleege o’ trying to resoositate that puir gentelman.  It wad be like rasin’ the dead, but there’ll be nae harm in tryin’, to be sure”.

“He is dead.  The doctor says so, Aunt Patty”.  And Adele turned away quickly.

But Mrs. McNab caught her shawl and held it.

“Naw, Miss Ady, dinna turn awa’ fram a puir body, that was overtook ance or twice with the whiskey, when a was tired and worrit for want o’ sleep.  I wad nae ha’ hurt a hair o’ the gentelman’s head.  An’ I wad like the preevaleege o’ wrappin’ some blankets round him an’ puttin’ some bottles o’ hot water to his feet”.

Adele, who had listened more patiently than she was wont, now turned and glancing at Aunt Patty, saw that she really looked humble and wishful, and two great tears were in her eyes.

“Well, I will see”, said she, struck with this new phase of Mrs. McNab’s countenance.  She went into the apartment, where they had just laid Mr. Somers upon a bed.