He carried the unconscious child across his horse; the body hung in so lifeless a manner that Ruth believed it was dead, and her eyes were suddenly blinded with tears.

She waded back to the beach, to the point towards which Mr Bellingham was directing his horse.
"Is he dead ?" asked she, stretching out her arms to receive the little fellow; for she instinctively felt that the position in which he hung was not the most conducive to returning consciousness, if, indeed, it would ever return.
"I think not," answered Mr Bellingham, as he gave the child to her, before springing off his horse.

"Is he your brother?
Do you know who he is ?" "Look!" said Ruth, who had sat down upon the ground, the better to prop the poor lad, "his hand twitches! he lives! oh, sir, he lives! Whose boy is he ?" (to the people, who came hurrying and gathering to the spot at the rumour of an accident).
"He's old Nelly Brownson's," said they.

"Her grandson." "We must take him into a house directly," said she.

"Is his home far off ?" "No, no; it's just close by." "One of you go for a doctor at once," said Mr Bellingham, authoritatively, "and bring him to the old woman's without delay.