ou."

"What are you going to do with the poor boy, doctor? Do you know who he
is, or anything about him?" a lady asked, whom Arthur recognised as Lady
Elmslie.

"No, I never saw him before. But we must get him to Redloaning as
quickly as possible, and have him taken to some cottage."

"See that he has everything that is necessary, doctor; and send up to
Inverweir, if you can't get all you require in the village," Lady
Elmslie said. It was her horses that had started forward at the
discharge of the gun, and had been the cause of the accident.

A man now stepped forward, and said, "Ye'll just let me carry the laddie
to the village, doctor. I'll start the noo, and I'll carry him easier
like than any kind o' trap, ye ken."

"A good idea, Stoddart. Lift him gently."

"I'll do that. He's a bit hero, puir laddie; an' we mauna let him dee
for his brave deed."

Stoddart lifted the still unconscious boy in his strong arms like an
infant, and starting off carried him in the direction of Redloaning.

"Take him to Mrs. Aikman's cottage, and I'll be there as soon as you,"
the doctor said. In a few minutes he mounted his horse and followed in
the same direction.

[Illustration: "ARTHUR BEGAN TO FEEL VERY SLEEPY" (_p. 148_).]
[Illustration: "STODDART ... CARRIED HIM" (_p. 149_).]

Meanwhile Arthur stood by hearing all that was said with anxious
interest. Though not much hurt, he was a good deal shaken, and was still
trembling from head to foot.

"Are you sure you are not hurt too, Arthur Dalrymple?" Lady Elmslie
asked, looking into the boy's white and startled face.

"Oh, no, I'm not hurt; but that poor boy, Lady Elmslie, will he be all
right again soon?"

"I hope so. We will do all we can for him. Don't you know anything about
him, either? But stop! Get up here beside me and I'll drive you home;
and you can tell me all you know about it."

Arthur got into the carriage. He rapidly decided that he would return
home at once, and give up all thoughts of going to Mrs. Stewart's
to-day. On the way home he told Lady Elmslie as briefly as possible all
he knew about the little boy who had been the means of saving probably
his life.

Lady Elmslie set Arthur down at the garden gate, but did not go with him
into the house. Then Arthur had to recount to his father, his mother,
and Kitty all the morning's adventures in detail, which he did in a
somewhat excited manner.

"I shall walk over to Redloaning and see how the poor boy