He laid his own tenderly upon the babe's forehead, then removing it, waved it abroad, inaudibly moved his lips, dropped his arm, and closed his eyes.

The curse was lifted.
"_Le pauv' dgiab'_!" said the overseer, wiping his eyes and looking fieldward.

"Palmyre, you must get the priest." The priest came, in the identical gown in which he had appeared the night of the two weddings.

To the good father's many tender questions Bras-Coupe turned a failing eye that gave no answers; until, at length: "Do you know where you are going ?" asked the holy man.
"Yes," answered his eyes, brightening.
"Where ?" He did not reply; he was lost in contemplation, and seemed looking far away.
So the question was repeated.
"Do you know where you are going ?" And again the answer of the eyes.

He knew.
"Where ?" The overseer at the edge of the porch, the widow with her babe, and Palmyre and the priest bending over the dying bed, turned an eager ear to catch the answer.
"To--" the voice failed a moment; the departing hero essayed again; again it failed; he tried once more, lifted his hand, and with an ecstatic, upward smile, whispered, "To--Africa"-- and was gone..