In the labor of watching and nursing it seemed to Gale that two
days and two nights slipped by like a few hours. During that time
the Indian recovered from his injury, and became capable of
performing all except heavy tasks. Then Gale succumbed to
weariness. After his much-needed rest he relieved Mercedes of the
care and watch over Thorne which, up to that time, she had
absolutely refused to relinquish. The cavalryman had high fever,
and Gale feared he had developed blood poisoning. He required
constant attention. His condition slowly grew worse, and there
came a day which Gale thought surely was the end. But that day
passed, and the night, and the next day, and Thorne lived on,
ghastly, stricken, raving. Mercedes hung over him with jealous,
passionate care and did all that could have been humanly done for
a man. She grew wan, absorbed, silent. But suddenly, and to Gale's
amaze and thanksgiving, there came an abatement of Thorne's fever.
With it some of the heat and redness of the inflamed wound
disappeared. Next morning he was conscious, and Gale grasped some
of the hope that Mercedes had never abandoned. He forced her to
rest while he attended to Thorne. That day he saw that the crisis
was past. Recovery for Thorne was now possible, and would perhaps
depend entirely upon the care he received.
Jim Lash's wound healed without any aggravating symptoms. It would
be only a matter of time until he had the use of his leg again.
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