uld be on my journey sooner than a month.
My business admits of no delay."

"Well," said the doctor in his courteous, gentle tone, "if you move you
will likely die."

"I shall certainly die if I do not."

For once the Old Prospector broke through his wonted philosophic calm.
His voice trembled, and his eyes glittered in his excitement.

"Well, well," said the doctor soothingly, noting these symptoms, "wait
a week or so. Follow the directions carefully, and we shall see."

"I shall wait a week, doctor, but no longer. In ten days I shall be on
the trail."

"Well, well," repeated the doctor, looking keenly into the old man's
face, "we won't worry about it for a week."

"No; for a week I am content."

Leaving the Old Prospector's shack Shock conducted the doctor to the
little room at the back of the Stopping Place where little Patsy lay.
At the door they were met by the mother, vociferous with lamentations,
prayers, blessings, and entreaties. Within the room, seated beside the
bed, was Carroll, gloomy and taciturn.

The doctor drew back the blind and let in the morning light. It showed
poor little Patsy, pale and wasted, his angelic face surrounded with a
golden aureole of yellow curls that floated across the white pillow.
The doctor was startled and moved.

"What is this?" he cried. "What is the matter?"

"Just an accident, doctor," said Mrs. Carroll volubly. "It was a blow
he got."

"I struck him wid a chair," said Carroll bitterly.

"Whisht, now, darlin'. You're not to be blamin' yourself at all, at
all. Sure, you didn't mane to do it. And what's a bit of discoosion
between men? The little Patsy, the brave little heart that he is, run
in to help his dad, so he did!" And Mrs. Carroll continued with a
description which became more and more incoherent and more and more
broken with sobs and tears.

"It's a wonder he didn't kill him," said the doctor.

"Arrah, ye may say it. But they do be tellin' me that his riverence
there beyant, he stood in under the blow. God bless his sowl! It's a
hairo he is--a hairo!"

She ran toward Shock as if to embrace him, but Shock, who had come to
know her ways, avoided her, dodging behind the doctor.

"Not at all," he said. "Any man would have done the same."

"Now, God pardon your riverence for the lie ye've told."

"But how did YOU get into the row?" asked the doctor, turning to Shock.

"And ye may ask," interrupted Mrs. Carroll. "It's all av that squirmin'
little w