CHAPTER LII. "ALL OVER."

Clayton,atthetimeoftheviolentassaultwhichwehavedescribed,receivedaninjuryupontheheadwhichrenderedhiminsensible. Whenhecametohimself,hewasconsciousatfirstonlyofafanningofsummerbreezes.Heopenedhiseyes,andlookedlistlesslyupintothebluesky,thatappearedthroughthethousandleafyhollowsofwavingboughs.Voicesofbirdswarblingandcalling,likeansweringechoes,toeachother,felldreamilyonhisear.Somegentlehandwasplacingbandagesaroundhisheadandfiguresofwomen,hedidnotrecognize,movedwhisperinglyaroundhim,tendingandwatching. Hedroppedasleepagain,andthusformanyhourslayinakindofheavytrance. HarryandLisettehadvacated,forhisuse,theirhutbut,asitwasnowthesplendidweatherofOctober,whenearthandskybecomeatempleofbeautyandserenity,theytendedhimduringthehoursofthedayintheopenair,anditwouldseemasiftherewerenoartofhealingliketothis.Asairandheatandwaterallhaveabenevolenttendencytoenterandfillupavacuum,sowemightfancythefailingvitalityofthehumansystemtoreceiveaccessionsofvigorbybeingplacedinthevicinityofthehealthfulgrowthsofnature.AllthetreeswhichJohnsawaroundtheriveroflifeandheavenborehealingleavesandtheremaybeasenseinwhichthetreesofourworldbearleavesthatarehealingbothtobodyandsoul.Hewhohathgoneoutofthecity,sick,disgusted,andwearied,andlainhimselfdownintheforest,underthefatherlyshadowofanoak,mayhaveheardthiswhisperedtohimintheleafyrustlingsofathousandtongues. *********** "See,"saidDredtoHarry,astheywerewatchingovertheyetinsensibleformofClayton,"howthewordoftheLordisfulfilledonthispeople.Heshalldeliverthem,everymanintothehandofhisneighborandhethatdepartethfromevilmakethhimselfaprey!" "Yes,"saidHarry"butthisisagoodmanhestandsupforourrights.Ifhehadhisway,weshouldsoonhavejusticedoneus." "Yes,"saidDred,"butitisevenasitwasofold'beholdIsenduntoyouprophetsandwisemen,andsomeofthemshallyeslay.Forthispeople'sheartiswaxedgross,andtheirearshavetheyclosed.Therefore,theLordshallbringuponthisgenerationthebloodofalltheslain,fromthebloodofrighteousAbeltothebloodofZacharias,thesonofBarachias,whomtheyslewbetweenthetempleandthealtar.'" *********** Afteradayortwospentinakindoflistlessdreaming,C