ng Bill."

In a few minutes Ned was able to sit up; a drink of cold brandy and
water further restored him. He went to the bed on which Bill had been
placed.

"He's not dead?" he asked with a gasp, as he saw the white face
enveloped in bandages.

"No, surelie," Luke replied cheerfully; "he be a long way from dead yet,
oi hoape, though he be badly cut about."

"Have you sent for the doctor?" Ned asked.

"No!"

"Then send for Dr. Green at once, and tell him from me to come up here
instantly."

Ned sat down in a chair for a few minutes, for he was still dazed and
stupid; but his brain was gradually clearing. Presently he looked up at
the men who were still standing silently near the door.

"I have no doubt," he said, "that I have to thank you all for saving my
life, but at present I do not know how it has all come about. I will see
you tomorrow. But unless it has already got known, please say nothing
about this. I don't want it talked about--at any rate until we see how
Bill gets on.

"Now, Luke," he continued, when the men had gone, "tell me all about it.
My brain is in a whirl, and I can hardly think."

Luke related the incidents of the fight and the flight of the
assailants, and said that they had carried off a dead man with them. Ned
sat for some time in silence.

"Yes," he said at last, "I shot one. I was walking along with Bill when
suddenly a gun was fired from a bush close by; then a number of men
jumped up and rushed upon us. I had my pistol, and had just time to fire
two shots. I saw one man go straight down, and then they were upon us.
They shouted to Bill to get out of the way, but he went at them like a
lion. I don't think any of the others had guns; at any rate they only
attacked us with sticks and knives. I fought with my back to Bill as
well as I could, and we were keeping them off, till suddenly I don't
remember any more."

"One on them hit ye from behind wi' a loaded stick," Luke said, "and
thou must ha' gone doon like a felled ox; then oi expects as Bill stood
across thee and kept them off as well as he could, but they war too much
for t' lad; beside that cut on the head he ha' one on shoulder and one
behind. Oi war only joost in toime, another quarter of a minute and
they'd ha' got their knives into thee."

"Poor old Bill," Ned said sadly, going up to the bedside and laying his
hand on the unconscious figure. "I fear you have given your life to save
one of little value to myself or any