In this they were
laid side by side, two deep; the earth was filled in, and the turf
replaced. At Hubert's suggestion, two young palm trees were taken
out of the garden and placed one at each end, and a wire fence was
erected all round, to keep off the animals.
It was a sad task; and although they had been killed in an attack
in which, had they been victorious, they would have shown no mercy,
still Mr. Hardy and his sons were deeply grieved at having caused
the destruction of so many lives.
It was late in the afternoon before all was done, and the party
returned to the house with lightened hearts, that the painful task
was finished. Here things had nearly resumed their ordinary aspect.
Terence had washed away the stains of blood; and save that many of
the young trees had been broken down, and that one side of the
fence was leveled, no one would have imagined that a sanguinary
contest had taken place there so lately.
Mr. Hardy stopped on the way to examine the wounded men. He had
acquired a slight knowledge of rough surgery in his early life upon
the prairies, and he discovered the bullet at a short distance
under the skin in the broken leg. Making signs to the man that he
was going to do him good, and calling in Fitzgerald and Lopez to
hold the Indian if necessary, he took out his knife, cut down to
the bullet, and with some trouble succeeded in extracting it.
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