out, which by this time, in the fast growing darkness, could scarce
be made out. They would indeed probably have missed it, for the
distance was fully a mile and a half; but before they had gone many
yards one of the four men passed by them on a run on his way down
to Marsden to summon the parish doctor, for a moment's examination
had sufficed to show them that the boy's injury was far too serious
to treat by themselves.

Tired as the boys were, they set off in his footsteps, and managed
to keep him in sight until they reached the spot whence Marsden
could be seen, and they could no longer mistake the way.

"Now, look here, Tompkins," Ned said as they made their way down
the hill; "don't you say a word about this affair. You haven't got
much to boast about in it, sitting there on the grass and doing
nothing to help me. I shan't say anything more about that if you
hold your tongue; but if you blab I will let all the fellows know
how you behaved."

"But they will all notice my nose directly I get in," Tompkins
said. "What am I to say?"

"Yes, there's no fear about their not noticing your nose," Ned
replied. "I don't want you to tell a lie. You can say the exact
truth. We were coming home across the moors; a boy interfered with
us, and would not let us pass; we both pitched into him, and at
last he got the worst of it, and we came home."

"But what's the harm of saying that you and he fell, and he broke
his leg?"