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"Connor, and young Donnie," he said

"Oh, Charles!" My heart squeezed, and tears filled my eyes "I a "

I stared at hi in my eyes

"There was a skirmish between the citizens and the outlaws, and several were killed," he said "In the end, both carried away dead; of the district seven men were lost

Robbie was not found We know not if he lives It is my unfortunate duty to inform you, lass"

My ht was insupportable He was simply off somewhere with Eco, or with so any day, and his laughter would fill the house again for a while, until he rode away on another of his escapades Adventure hat Robbie lived for; he would never be dead

Before I could speak, he said, "We have spoken to the Creeks They have not seen him"

"Even Eco has not seen him?" I choked on the words

"She says not since the Moon of Falling Leaves"

I stared at him, my mouth open

"That's October, Jessie; she hasn't seen him since then"

October Eco said she had not seen Robbie since October In October, we had left Barraigh for Brianag I felt suddenly weak Robbie had left Brianag the first of Noveain

"Jessie You must not hope too much We fear that Robbie shall not be restored to us"

I said, "But he ith you at the fight," I said

"Yes," said Charles

Again, my mind slammed the door on the picture of Robbie dead No He is not dead

He is alive somewhere; of course he is! He will be ho at me; I realized I had spoken out loud I pulled my hands away from his Mrs Randall entered the room Charles stood; all thebad news"

Mrs Randall fainted, sluainst Polo, who could barely hold her up Charles carried her to a settee; I knelt beside her, chafing her hands, until hersalts When she roused, she looked at me and said, "My boy is dead"

"No, no!" I said "He is not dead, Mrs Randall! Only "