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Roger Malvin's Burial
Hisrighthandgraspedamusket;and,tojudgefromtheviolentactionofhisfeatures,hisslumberswerebringingbackavisionoftheconflictofwhichhewasoneofthefewsurvivors.Ashoutdeepandloudinhisdreamingfancy—founditswayinanimperfectmurmurtohislips;and,startingevenattheslightsoundofhisownvoice,hesuddenlyawoke.Thefirstactofrevivingrecollectionwastomakeanxiousinquiriesrespectingtheconditionofhiswoundedfellow-traveller.Thelattershookhishead.
"Reuben,myboy,"saidhe,"thisrockbeneathwhichwesitwillserveforanoldhunter’sgravestone.Thereismanyandmanyalongmileofhowlingwildernessbeforeusyet;norwoulditavailmeanythingifthesmokeofmyownchimneywerebutontheothersideofthatswellofland.TheIndianbulletwasdeadlierthanIthought."
"Youarewearywithourthreedays’travel,"repliedtheyouth,"andalittlelongerrestwillrecruityou.SityouherewhileIsearchthewoodsfortheherbsandrootsthatmustbeoursustenance;and,havingeaten,youshallleanonme,andwewillturnourfaceshomeward.Idoubtnotthat,withmyhelp,youcanattaintosomeoneofthefrontiergarrisons."
"Thereisnottwodays’lifeinme,Reuben,"saidtheother,calmly,"andIwillnolongerburdenyouwithmyuselessbody,whenyoucanscarcelysupportyourown.Yourwoundsaredeepandyourstrengthisfailingfast;yet,ifyouhastenonwardalone,youmaybepreserved.Formethereisnohope,andIwillawaitdeathhere."
"Ifitmustbeso,Iwillremainandwatchbyyou,"saidReuben,resolutely.
