Drinking the coffee which Pallas forced upon her, Alice again set forth, not with the others, but alone, walking like one distracted, darting wild glances hither and thither, and calling in an impassioned voice that wailed through the wilderness, seeming to penetrate every breath of air,--"Philip! Philip!" And now she saw where he had broken off evergreens the day before, and fluttering round and round the spot, like a bird crying after its robbed nest, she sobbed,--"Philip! Philip!" And then she saw _him_, sitting on a log, pale and haggard-looking, his white face stained with blood and his hair mottled with it, a frightful gash across his temple and head, which he drooped upon his hand; and he tried to answer her. Before she could reach him he sank to the ground. "He is dead!" she cried, flying forward, sinking beside him, and lifting his head to her knee. "Father! father! come to us!" They heard her sharp cry, and, hastening to the spot, found her, pale as the body at her feet, gazing down into the deathly face. "Alice, don't look so, child. He's not dead--he's only fainted. Here, men, lift him up speedily, for he's nigh about gone. Thar's been mischief here--no mistake!" Captain Wilde breathed hard as he glared about upon his men. The thought had occurred to him that some one had attempted to murder the young man for his valuable watch and chain and the well-filled purse he was supposed to carry. But no--the watch and money were undisturbed;--may be he had fallen and cut his head--if he should revive, they would know all. They bore him to the house and laid him upon Alice's white bed in the pretty room just arranged for her comfort; it was the quietest, pleasantest place in the house, and she would have him there. After the administration of a powerful dose of brandy, the faint pulse of the wounded man fluttered up a little stronger; more was given him, the blood was wiped away, and cool, wet napkins kept around his head; and by noon of the same day, he was able to give some account of himself.