e made while the muscles were relaxed. Nevertheless, he took time
both to settle his own ideas, and to explain them to the girl. It was
the luckiest chance of Dick Herron's life that he happened to be
travelling with the one man who had assisted in the skilled treatment of
such a case. Otherwise he would most certainly have been crippled.

Sam first of all pried from the inner construction of the canoe two or
three of the flat cedar strips used to reinforce the bottom. These he
laid in several thicknesses to make a board of some strength. On the
board he folded a blanket in wedge form, the thick end terminating
abruptly three or four inches from the bottom. He laid aside several
buckskin thongs, and set May-may-gwan to ripping bandages of such
articles of clothing as might suit.

Then he bent the injured leg at the knee. May-may-gwan held it in that
position, while Sam manipulated the foot into what he judged to be the
proper position. Especially did he turn the foot strongly inward that
the inner ankle-bone might fall to its place. As to the final result he
confessed himself almost painfully in doubt, but did the best he knew.
He remembered the post-surgeon's cunning comments, and tried to assure
himself that the fractured ends of the bones met each other fairly,
without the intervention of tendons or muscle-covering, and that there
was no obstruction to the movements of the ankle. When he had finished,
his brow was wrinkled with anxiety, but he was satisfied that he had
done to the limit of his knowledge.

May-may-gwan now held the cedar board, with its pad, against the inside
of the leg. Sam bound the thin end of the wedge-shaped blanket to the
knee. Thus the thick end of the pad pressed against the calf just above
the ankle, leaving the foot and the injured bone free of the board. Sam
passed a broad buckskin thong about the ankle and foot in such a manner
as to hold the foot from again turning out. Thus the fracture was fixed
in place. The bandages were wound smoothly to hold everything secure.

The two then, with the utmost precaution, carried their patient up the
bank to a level space suitable for a camp, where he was laid as flat as
possible. The main business was done, although still there remained
certain cuts and contusions, especially that on the forehead, which had
stunned him.

After the reduction of the fracture,--which was actually consummated
before Dick regained his consciousness,--and the carrying