er was a road, which went up a hill each
way, so that cars coming down put on speed to go up, and forded the
stream which was a mere thread of water except after high rains.

Randy was talking to the Major as he came down the hill. He did not
see Fiddle until he was almost upon her. He was driving at high speed,
and there was only a second in which to jam things down and pull things
up and stop the car.

Kemp was behind him. He was not prepared for Randy's sudden stop. He
swerved sharply to the left, slammed into a telegraph pole--and came
back to life to find somebody bending over him. "Who is looking after
the lady, sir?" he managed to murmur.

"Young Paine and Mr. Flippin are carrying her to the house. You are
cut a bit. Let me tie up your head." The Major gave efficient first
aid and after that Kemp got to his feet, painfully. "Is Miss MacVeigh
badly hurt?"

"She is conscious, and not in great pain. I'm not much of a prop to
lean on, but I think we can make that hill together."

They climbed slowly, the man of crutches and the man with the bound-up
head.

"It's like a little bit of over there, Kemp, isn't it?"

"Yes it as, sir--many's the time I've seen them helping each
other--master and man."

When they got to the house, they found Madge on the sofa, and Mrs.
Flippin bending over her. "My husband has gone for the doctor," she
told the Major. "I think the blood comes from her hand; she must have
put it up to save her face."

"I bent my head," murmured Madge, "and my hat was broad. Think what
might have happened if I had worn a little hat."

She had started the sentence lightly but she stopped with a gasp of
pain. "Oh--my foot----" she said, "the pain--is--dreadful----"

The Major drew up a chair, and handed his crutches to Randy. "If
you'll let us take off your shoe, it might help till the doctor comes."

She fainted dead away while they did it, and came back to life to find
her foot bandaged, and her uncut hand held in the firm clasp of the man
with the crutches. He was regarding her with grave gray eyes, but his
face lighted as she looked up at him.

"Drink this," he told her. "The doctor is on the way, and I think it
will help the pain until he comes."

She liked his voice--it had a deep and musical quality. She was glad
he was there. Something in his strength seemed to reach out to her and
give her courage.

When the pain began again, he gave her another drink from the glas