The surgeon thought his wound a serious one; for the heavy stone which had hit him had injured the skull, and the unhappy youth was trembling with fever.

His head was burning, and it was with difficulty that he spoke a few coherent words.

But his eyes betrayed that he recognized Melissa, and that it was a joy to him to see her again; and when he was told that Alexander had so far escaped, a bright look lighted up his countenance.

It was evidently a comfort to him to gaze on Melissa's pretty face; her hand lay in his, and he understood her when she greeted him from her father, and spoke to him of various matters; but the lids ere long closed over his aching eyes.
Melissa felt that she must leave him to rest.

She gently released his hand from her grasp and laid it across his breast, and moved no more, excepting to wipe the drops from his brow.