As he lay on the turf, Barbara saw a dark red stain ooze from his right side, and spread as ink on blotting-paper. The point of the scythe had entered his side. He put his hand to the wound, and then looked at his palm. His face turned livid. At that moment, just as Barbara sprang to her father, having recovered from the momentary paralysis of terror, Eve bounded from the hall-door, holding a ball over her head in both her hands, and shouting joyously, ‘I have the Jack! I have the Jack!’ CHAPTER XXII. THE RED STREAK. BARBARA was not a girl to allow precious moments to be lost; instead of giving way to emotion and exclamations, she knelt and tore off her father’s waistcoat, ripped his shirt, and found a gash under the rib; tearing off her kerchief she ran, sopped it in cold water, and held it tightly to the wound. ‘Run, Eve, run, summon help!’ she cried. But Eve was powerless to be of assistance; she had turned white to the lips, had staggered back to the door, and sent the Jack rolling over the turf to her father’s feet. ‘I am faint,’ gasped poor Eve. ‘I cannot see blood.’ ‘You must,’ exclaimed Barbara, ‘command yourself. Ring the alarm bell: Jasper—someone—will hear.’ ‘The power is gone from my arms,’ sobbed Eve, shivering. ‘Call one of the maids. Bid her ring,’ ordered the elder. Eve, holding the sides of the door to prevent herself from falling, deadly white, with knees that yielded under her, staggered into the house. Presently the old bell hung in a pent-house over the roof of the chapel began to give tongue. Barbara, kneeling behind her father, raised his head on her bosom, and held her kerchief to his side. The first token of returning consciousness was given by his hands, which clutched at some grass he had cut. Then he opened his eyes. ‘Why is the bell tolling?’ ‘Dear papa! it is calling for help. Yon must be moved. You are badly hurt.’ ‘I feel it. In my side. How was it? I do not remember. Ah! the scythe. Has the blade cut deep?’ ‘I cannot tell, papa, till the doctor comes. Are you easier now?’ ‘You did it. Interfering with me when I was mowing. Teasing me. You will not leave me alone. You are always watching me. You wanted to take the scythe from me. If you had left me alone this would not have happened.’ ‘Never mind, darling papa, how it happened. Now we must do our best to cure you.’ ‘Am I badly hurt? What are these women coming crowding round me for? I do not want the maids here. Drive them back, Barbara.’ Barbara made a sign to the cook and house and kitchen maids to stand back. ‘You must be moved to your room, papa.’ ‘Am I dying, Barbara?’ ‘I hope and trust not, dear.’ ‘I cannot die without speaking; but I will not speak till I am on the point of death.’ ‘Do not speak, father, at all now.’ He obeyed and remained quiet, with his eyes looking up at the sky. Thus he lay till Jasper arrived breathless. He had heard the bell, and had run, suspecting some disaster.