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Show Page 228 could be, but never dreamed it would be. A small trickle of happiness then crept back into my heart, but I felt also a small, black kernel of doubt. "Many a time I've cursed my armor," stated Captain Pierce, "most particular in the heat of last summer when we went about on our raids. But this time I deem it was right welcome. The arrows of the savages simply bounced off, so few of our men were killed. Course, the Indians being so fleet of foot, we had not much luck either, though a few savages paid dearly for the treachery they wrought last spring." I sat next John, bathing his brow with a cool rag as he slept. The Pierces had kindly agreed to let him recover at their home, and I had laid John a pallet next the fire. John had remained delirious while Captain and Mistress Pierce pulled on the leg to set it back into place. Then I had laid a poultice on it hefore Mistress Pierce made it fast with strips of hickory and bound it in clean linen. Now, though he had yet to awaken, his fever had finally broken. The captain had been telling us about the expedition, but now he emptied his pipe into the fireplace and rose to his feet, yawning. Before he took himself off to his bed, he laid a gnarled hand upon my shoulder. "He's a strong lad and youth is on his side," he told me. "And if the love of a woman |