y? That's right. Now then, we shall soon
know. Stand in front of his head, Chris."

Then as soon as the boy was where he was directed to stand, stroking the
poor beast's nose, the doctor took hold of the broken shaft with the
forceps, made sure of the position of the flattened arrowhead, and then
passing the curved knife down by its side, made one firm cut through the
skin and muscle, and the next moment the withdrawn arrow was thrown on
the stones at their feet.

"Brave boy!" said the doctor loudly. "Why, he hardly winced. Now for
the sponge and water. That's right," and he bathed and pressed the
bleeding wound thoroughly. "There," he said; "I believe the poor brute
really does understand. Let that bleed a little; it will help it to
heal better. Now for the next."

This was a very different injury, for plainly enough to be seen just
beneath the skin there lay fully six inches of a broken arrow.

The doctor passed his hand over this, and the pony shivered a little;
but it was only a very superficial flinch, and the doctor changed his
knife for another lying in the leather case.

"Poor old fellow," he said. "I believe I could do anything to him. He
must understand."

The two boys watched everything intently, and noted that the operator
pinched up the skin and arrow together; then starting from the orifice
where the missile had entered he drew the keen point along the shaft
till it grated on the barbed head, dividing the skin cleanly the whole
length of the arrow, which required no forceps to remove it, for it
dropped down of its own weight.

"Why, Chris," cried the doctor, "you couldn't have borne this so
patiently.--Now, hold up the bucket, Ned. That's the way. I dare say
the sponging feels comforting and takes off the itching."

"But ought it to bleed, father?" asked Chris.

"No, no. The injury is only to the skin. There's very little harm
done."

The third wound was far worse, and to get out the arrowhead the doctor
had to cut deeply, with the result that the equine patient stamped
angrily and whinnied and shook his head. But he stood firm, making no
attempt to kick or bite, and as soon as the wound was being bathed,
stood blinking and evidently enjoying having its muzzle smoothed.

Then came the long cut or tear on the poor brute's flank, an injury so
tender that he winced and shivered at the slightest touch. But there
was no cutting here, nothing but bathing and cleansing the place
tho