his pocketknife an armful of the dryest fern. Spreading this within
the shed, which was entirely open on one side, he placed his mother
thereon; then he ran with all his might towards the dwelling of
Fairway.

Nearly a quarter of an hour had passed, disturbed only by the broken
breathing of the sufferer, when moving figures began to animate the
line between heath and sky. In a few moments Clym arrived with
Fairway, Humphrey, and Susan Nunsuch; Olly Dowden, who had chanced
to be at Fairway's, Christian and Grandfer Cantle following
helter-skelter behind. They had brought a lantern and matches, water,
a pillow, and a few other articles which had occurred to their minds
in the hurry of the moment. Sam had been despatched back again for
brandy, and a boy brought Fairway's pony, upon which he rode off to
the nearest medical man, with directions to call at Wildeve's on his
way, and inform Thomasin that her aunt was unwell.

Sam and the brandy soon arrived, and it was administered by the light
of the lantern; after which she became sufficiently conscious to
signify by signs that something was wrong with her foot. Olly Dowden
at length understood her meaning, and examined the foot indicated. It
was swollen and red. Even as they watched the red began to assume a
more livid colour, in the midst of which appeared a scarlet speck,
smaller than a pea, and it was found to consist of a drop of blood,
which rose above the smooth flesh of her ankle in a hemisphere.

"I know what it is," cried Sam. "She has been stung by an adder!"

"Yes," said Clym instantly. "I remember when I was a child seeing
just such a bite. O, my poor mother!"

"It was my father who was bit," said Sam. "And there's only one way
to cure it. You must rub the place with the fat of other adders, and
the only way to get that is by frying them. That's what they did for
him."

"'Tis an old remedy," said Clym distrustfully, "and I have doubts
about it. But we can do nothing else till the doctor comes."

"'Tis a sure cure," said Olly Dowden, with emphasis. "I've used it
when I used to go out nursing."

"Then we must pray for daylight, to catch them," said Clym gloomily.

"I will see what I can do," said Sam.

He took a green hazel which he had used as a walking-stick, split it
at the end, inserted a small pebble, and with the lantern in his hand
went out into the heath. Clym had by this time lit a small fire, and
despatched Susan Nunsuch for a frying-pan. Bef