In vain did the woman lift him up, and ask him several questions.

She saw plainly enough that he desired to speak, but he could not make himself understood.

Noticing that he was trying to get his hand to his pocket, she quickly drew out of it a little note-book, which she opened and gave to him.
The wounded man took the pencil out of the note-book and tried to write.

In fact, the witness saw him form several letters, but with great difficulty.

As she could not read, however, she was unable to understand their meaning.