As he had suspected, they corresponded
exactly, making all due allowance for the time they had
been separated, and he had no longer a doubt that the
mutilated boy was Mr. Heywood's help, Wilton. A much more
important discovery than this, however, resulted from
his vain endeavor to recognise the boy from his features,
they were so contracted by terror, as has already been
said, and so covered with blood as to be indistinguishable.
But on turning him upon his back, and passing his hands
over his face, Collins was surprised to find that there
was not that icy chill which he had expected, but on the
contrary the faint warmth that indicates suspended,
animation; and deeper yet was the gratification of the
rude soldier, when, on opening the shirt and placing his
hand on the heart of the boy, he felt an occasional
spasmodic pulsation, denoting that life was not utterly
extinct.
With an eagerness to preserve life, strongly in contrast
with his recent exultation in destroying it, his anxiety
for the recovery of the boy was almost paternal. Fortunately
the latter part of the day had been free from the chilliness
of the morning, so that, although the naked skull must
have been some hours exposed, the comparatively bland
state of the atmosphere gave fair earnest that the brain
itself, even if affected, had not sustained a mortal
injury.
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