Elihu Strong sat in a chair before one of the windows, and his wounded leg, swathed heavily, reposed in another chair.
Robert paused, and his heart beat rather hard.

This was the first friend of his old life that he had seen.

Now, he was coming in reality back to his world.

He stood a few moments, irresolute, and then advancing lightly he said: "Good morning, Colonel Strong!" The wounded man wheeled in his chair and looked at him, inquiry in his face.

Robert did not know what changes his life on the island had made in his appearance, his expression rather, but he saw that Colonel Strong did not know him, and it pleased him to play for a minute or so with the fact.
"You did not receive this bullet, sir, when you saved us from St.Luc," he said.