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A mattrass was brought down, on which they placed him and propped his
head, and gave him water and brandy. The women of the household, joined
meantime by another son, who had been found in one of the corn cribs,
watching as he said, to see that Booth and Harold did not steal the
horses, were nervous, but prompt to do the dying man all kindnesses,
although waived sternly back by the detectives. They dipped a rag in
brandy and water, and this being put between Booth's teeth he sucked it
greedily. When he was able to articulate again, he muttered to Mr. Baker
the same words, with an addenda. "Tell mother I died for my country. I
thought I did for the best." Baker repeated this, saying at the same
time "Booth, do I repeat it correctly." Booth nodded his head. By this
time the grayness of dawn was approaching; moving figures inquisitively
coming near were to be seen distinctly, and the cocks began to crow
gutturally, though the barn was a hulk of blaze and ashes, sending
toward the zenith a spiral line of dense smoke. The women became
importunate that the troops might be ordered to extinguish the fire,
which was spreading toward their precious corn-cribs. Not even death
could banish the call of interest. Soldiers were sent to put out the
fire, and Booth, relieved of the bustle around him, drew near to death
apace. Twice he was heard to say, "kill me, kill me." His lips often
moved but could complete no appreciable sound. He made once a motion
which the quick eye of Conger understood to mean that his throat pained
him. Conger put his finger there, when the dying man attempted to cough,
but only caused the blood at his perforated neck to flow more, lively.
He bled very little, although shot quite through, beneath and behind the
ears, his collar being severed on both sides.
A soldier had been meanwhile despatched for a doctor, but the route and
return were quite six miles, and the sinner was sinking fast. Still the
women made efforts to get to see him, but were always rebuffed, and all
the brandy they could find was demanded by the assassin, who motioned
for strong drink every two minutes. He made frequent desires to be
turned over, not by speech, but by gesture, and was alternately placed
upon his back, belly and side. His tremendous vitality evidenced itself
almost miraculously. Now and then, his heart would cease to throb, and
his pulses would be as cold as a dead man's. Directly life would begin
anew, the face would flush up effulgently, the eyes open and brighten,
and soon relapsing, stillness re-asserted, would again be dispossessed
by the same magnificent triumph of man over mortality. Finally the fussy
little doctor arrived, in time to be useless. He probed the wound to see
if the ball were not in it, and shook his head sagely, and talked
learnedly.
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