With that stone the brute had tried to strike the death blow. She was lying on the edge of the hill with her head up the incline. It was too plain, the terrible crime that had been committed. The poor father sank beside her body with an inarticulate groan as though some one had crushed his head with an axe. He seemed dazed for a moment, and looking around he shouted hoarsely, “The doctor boys! The doctor quick! For God’s sake, quick! She’s not dead yet--we may save her--help--help!” he sank again to the ground limp and faint from pain and was soon insensible. Gaston gathered the child tenderly in his arms and carried her to the house. The men hastily made a stretcher and carried Tom behind him. CHAPTER V--A THOUSAND-LEGGED BEAST WHILE Gaston and the men were carrying Flora and Tom to the house, another searching party was formed. There were no women and children among them, only grim-visaged silent men, and a pair of little mild-eyed sharp-nosed blood-hounds. All the morning men were coming in from the country and joining this silent army of searchers. Doctor Graham came, looked long and gravely at Flora and turned a sad face toward Tom. The ole soldier grasped his arm before he spoke. “‘Now, doctor wait--don’t say a word yet. I don’t want to know the truth, if it’s the worst. Don’t kill me in a minute. Let me live as long as there’s breath in her body--after that! well, that’s the end--there’s nothin’ after that!” The doctor started to speak. “Wait,” pleaded Tom, “let me tell you something. I’ve been praying all night. I’ve seen God face to face. She can’t die. He told me so--” He paused and his grip on the doctor’s arm relaxed as though he were about to faint, but he rallied. The kindly old doctor said gently, “Sit down Tom.” He tried to lead Tom away from the bed, but he held on like a bull dog. The child breathed heavily and moaned. Tom’s face brightened. “She’s comin’ to, doctor,--thank God!” The doctor paid no more attention to him and went on with his work as best he could. Tom laid his tear-stained face close to hers, and murmured soothingly to her as he used to when she was a wee baby in his arms, “There, there, honey, it will be all right now! The doctor’s here, and he ’ll do all he can! And what he can’t do, God will. The doctor ’ll save you. God will save you! He loves you. He loves me. I prayed all night. He heard me. I saw the shinin’ glory of His face! He’s only tryin’ His poor old servant.” The broken artery was found and tied and the bleeding stopped. When the wound in her head was dressed the doctor turned to Tom, “That wound is bad, but not necessarily fatal.” “Praise God!” “Keep the house quiet and don’t let her see a strange face when she regains consciousness,” was his parting injunction.