himself to the full length of his arms, and dropped to the ground, far below. He fell; there was a dull shock, followed by a throbbing pain, and he lost consciousness.
4. Awake.
For hours he lay stunned and motion-less amid the tall bracken at the foot of the wall. Even the linnets at last grew accustomed to his presence, and perched upon him, twittering to their mates in the thick branches above.
Then, as through some dreamy veil of floating mist, he seemed to see forms approaching along the woodland path—forms that to his slumbering senses appeared like those of ministering angels bringing to him comfort and consolation. The one was that of an old man; the other that of a maiden, upon whose sweet, sad face there were cruel traces of great sorrow. *** "Gerard!"
"He has broken a bone, my daughter," said Father Paul, bending and tenderly examining the sufferer.
