Under Fire: A Tale of the Shenandoah Valley — page 211: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

204 NED BRIGHT AGAIN APPEARS, His head ached severely, and was swathed. in Dye dages. While he gazed about him in utter bewilderment, a door opened; he did not see it but heard the creak- ing sound, and some one entered the room. Presently the sound of a dress rustled near, and the next moment a young woman stood at his side. ‘Bertha McVane!’’ ejaculated the Union captain, in evident wonder. She $miled now, and laid a soft hand on his ban- daged brow. ‘You are better—you will live, captain !”’ ‘“What the duse has happened?’’ cried Royal, at- tempting to sit upright, but sinking into the pillows with a gasp of pain. ‘Don’t try to sit up. You arein a bad way yet, Captain Chetwood,’’ said Bertha, soothingly. ‘‘You were thrown from your horse, and left here by Moses Bluff yesterday.’’ “Yesterday! My soul! have I been lying here all this time ?’’ gasped the astonished captain. ‘You have. Don’t worry. You are safe here. The Tigers have gone on, and I am to care for you; itis Mr. Bluft’s instructions.” “Mr Bluff,’’ muttered Biche ond, “* “Loyal Mose’ —your friend.”’ ‘‘Yes—yes,’’ uttered the dazed captain, watching the maiden’s face narrowly. She was the same Bertha, yet she seemed strangely altered, too, since he had last met her. When she learned that Colonel Trafton was dead, and by his hand, she would doubtless feel more like wishing him dead than nursing him back to life. She seated herself at the head of the bed and watched him curiously. npeltaa, 7 “Well, captain??? m