absolutely contemptible; however, it is just as well that you did
not see them drill, because now, if by any chance this lad should
die, and inquiry were made about it, there would be no occasion
for you to allude to the subject at all. You would be able to say
truthfully that finding that he was hurt, you went off, and happened
to come upon four men on the moor and brought them to his assistance."

"I promised to go up to see the boy, father. I suppose that there
is no harm?"

"None at all, Ned, it is only natural that you should entertain
the wish; in fact you have injured him seriously, and we must do
all in our power to alleviate his pain. I will go in the morning
and see Dr. Green. I shall, of course, tell him that the boy was
hurt in a tussle with you, and that you are very sorry about it.
The fact that he is some two years older, as you say, and ever so
much stronger and bigger, is in itself a proof that you were not
likely to have wantonly provoked a fight with him. I shall ask the
doctor if there is anything in the way of food and comforts I can
send up for him."

Accordingly, the next morning, the first thing after breakfast,
Captain Sankey went out and called upon the doctor. Ned awaited
his return anxiously.

"The doctor says it's a bad fracture, Ned, a very bad fracture,
and the boy must have had his leg curiously twisted under him for
the bone to have snapped in such a way. He questions whether it
will be possible to save the leg; indeed, he would have taken it
off last night, but the boy said he would rather die, and the men