This seems not the hiding-place Uncle George supposed.
I was wakened by his trying to strike a light, and I thought he was a ghost." I hoped he was dead, and so an end to all our fears from him.

But I found him still breathing, though but faintly, and he had not his senses.

I dragged him across to my bed and sought for his wound, and found it at last in the head.

Either the old pistol had cast high, or my sudden up-jump, or his down-bending, had upset my aim.

For the shot had entered the side of his head at the back, just above the ear, and as I could find no hole whence it had issued it was probably in his head still.