A man would need a hard skull, indeed, to require more than one blow from such a weapon." Now that Adam Armstrong had done all that there was to do, he went again to the cottage where Allan lay.

He had paid several visits there, in the afternoon; but there was nought for him to do, and no comfort to be gained from the white face of the insensible lad.

Meg assured him, however, that he was going on as well as could be expected.
"He is in a torpor, at present," she said; "and may so lie for two or three days; but so long as there is no fever he will, I hope, know you when he opens his eyes.

There is nought to do but to keep wet cloths round his head, and to put on a fresh poultice over the wound, every hour." Now Armstrong took his place by his son's pallet.

For a time, the work of making preparations for Oswald's departure, and of sending off messages to his friends, had prevented his thoughts from dwelling upon his loss.