FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>  
hint dropped by the Hermit in other days, had instituted a search for buried papers, which resulted in the unearthing of a tin box containing various documents. She had insisted, too, that the rough furniture should go, and it was piled in the front of the wagon. Another man had brought out the old pack mare for the baggage of the original fishing party, and the whole cavalcade moved off before the sun had got above the horizon. But it was a tedious journey. Dr. Anderson sat beside his patient, watching the feeble action of the heart and the flickering pulse, plying him with stimulants and nourishment, occasionally calling a halt for a few minutes' complete rest. Close to the wheel Dick Stephenson rode, his eyes scarcely leaving his father's face. On the other side, Norah and her father rode in silent, miserable anxiety, fretting at their utter helplessness. Dr. Anderson glanced sharply now and then at the little girl's face. "This isn't good for her," he said at length quietly to Mr. Linton. "She's had too much already. Take her home." He raised his voice. "You'd better go on," he said; "let Mrs. Brown know just what is coming; she'll need you to help her prepare the patient's room, Norah. You, too, Stephenson." "I won't leave him, thanks," he said. "I'd rather not--he might become conscious." "No chance of that," the doctor said, "best not, too, until we have him safely in bed. However, stay if you like--perhaps it's as well. I think, Linton, you'd better send a wire to Melbourne for a trained nurse." "And one to mother," Dick said quickly. "That's gone already," Mr. Linton said. "I sent George back with it last night when he brought the mare out." He smiled in answer to Dick's grateful look. "Well, come on, Norah." The remembrance of that helpless form in the bottom of the wagon haunted Norah's memory all through the remainder of the ride home. She was thoroughly tired now--excitement that had kept her up the day before had prevented her from sleeping, and she scarcely could keep upright in the saddle. However, she set her teeth to show no sign of weakness that should alarm her father, and endeavoured to have a smile for him whenever his anxious gaze swept her white face. The relief of seeing the red roof of home! That last mile was the longest of all--and when at length they were at the gate, and she had climbed stiffly off her pony, she could only lean against his shoulder and shake from head to f
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   >>  



Top keywords:
Linton
 

father

 

scarcely

 

Anderson

 

patient

 
Stephenson
 
However
 

length

 
brought
 

longest


mother

 

trained

 
climbed
 

Melbourne

 
doctor
 

chance

 
conscious
 
shoulder
 

quickly

 

safely


stiffly

 

George

 

remainder

 

haunted

 

memory

 

weakness

 

excitement

 

prevented

 

sleeping

 

saddle


bottom

 
smiled
 

anxious

 

upright

 

answer

 
remembrance
 

helpless

 
grateful
 

endeavoured

 
relief

cavalcade
 

baggage

 
original
 
fishing
 

horizon

 

action

 
flickering
 

plying

 
feeble
 

watching