Then I listened. I
was scared, and began to believe in witchcraft. The groans came from
the woods on my left, and there was no doubt about the sound--so,
having listened for some time, I mustered courage to go in the
direction of the sound. Can you think what I found, general?"
"What?" said Mohun, in the same cool voice; "tell me."
"A man lying in a grave;--a real grave, general--broad and deep--a man
with a hole through his breast, and streaming with blood."
"Is it possible?"
And Mohun uttered a laugh.
"Just as I tell you, general--it is the simple, naked truth. When I got
to the place, he was struggling to get out of the grave, and his breast
was bleeding terribly. I never saw a human being look paler. 'Help!' he
cried out, in a suffocated voice like, when he saw me--and as he spoke,
he made such a strong effort to rise, that his wound gushed with blood,
and he fainted."
"He fainted, did he? And what did you do?" said Mohun.
"I took him up in my arms, general, as I had taken the woman, carried
him to my cart, when I bound up his breast in the best way I could, and
laid him by the side of the half-drowned lady."
"To get a reward from _his_ friends, too, no doubt?"
"Well, general, we must live, you know. And did I not deserve something
for being so scared--and for the use of my mule?"
"Certainly you did.
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