The officer put an arm under his head, and made an expressive sign to the awed witnesses of the scene.

Helmsley, startled at this, came hurriedly forward, trembling and scarcely able to speak in the extremity of his fear and pity.
"What--what is it ?" he stammered.

"Not--not---- ?" "Death! That's what it is!" said the officer, gently.

"His heart's broken!" One rough fellow here pushed his way to the side of the fallen man,--it was the cattle-driver who had taken part in the previous conversation among the customers at the inn before the occurrence of the tragedy.

He knelt down, sobbing like a child.
"Tom!" he faltered, "Tom, old chap! Hearten up a bit! Don't leave us! There's not one of us us'll think ill of ye!--no, not if the law was to shut ye up for life! You was allus good to us poor folk--an' poor folk aint as forgittin' o' kindness as rich.