"Is he dead ?" "No," said Martin, with his hand upon Cameron's heart.

"Bring water.
You can't loosen his fingers till he revives.

The blow that knocked him senseless set those fingers as they are and they will stay set thus till released by returning consciousness." "Here then, get water quick!" shouted the Superintendent to the slim young constable.
Gradually as the water was splashed upon his face Cameron came back to life and, relaxing his fingers, stretched himself with a sigh as of vast relief and lay still.
"Here, take that, you beast!" cried the Sergeant, dashing the rest of the water into the face of the Indian lying rigid and motionless on the ground.

A long shudder ran through the Indian's limbs.

Clutching at his throat with both hands, he raised himself to a sitting posture, his breath coming in raucous gasps, glared wildly upon the group, then sank back upon the ground, rolled over upon his side and lay twitching and breathing heavily, unheeded by the doctor and Police who were working hard over Cameron.
"No bones broken, I think," said the doctor, feeling the battered head.
"Here's where the blow fell that knocked him out," pointing to a ridge that ran along the side of Cameron's head.