the horse and
turned toward the house, his brother stumbling behind, quite exhausted
by the hurry and fatigue of the hour.

As they went Lucas said: "How did you come to know of it?"

"Well, it was cur'us," said Theodore. "You know I had old Sam this
morning, bringing in a little jag of wood for Armidy, and lengthened
out the traces to fit the old waggin. Well, all I know about it is
what I guess. I see from the looks they must 'a' concluded to go to
the village with some eggs and so on, 'cause you can see in the road
where they smashed when the basket flew out; and Jerry didn't know no
more than to hitch up into the buggy without shortenin' the traces,
and you know how that would work. Well, the cur'us thing is that I was
out in the paster mowin' some brakes--here, let me hitch up this
side, while you do the other--and I heard somebody or somethin' comin'
slam-bang, and I looked up--I wa'n't near enough so as to see who
'twas nor anythin'--and I looked up, and see 'em comin' like hudy,
down one of them pitches. Thinks said I, well, there's a hitch-up
that's goin' to flinders--and just then the forward wheel struck a big
stone, and I see the woman and man and all fly inter the air and come
down agin, and the hoss went."

"Where's the horse now?" said Lucas.

"I don't know, and I don't care. Tell ye, best put a feather-bed in
the bottom of this waggin, because her arm's broke for certain, and I
don't know what else. I'll fetch it--if you've got some spirits."

"Yes," said Lucas, "I'll fetch some;" and both hurried into the house,
and soon came out again and hastened off.

"How did you know who 'twas?" Lucas inquired, with solemn curiosity
fitting the occasion.

"Why, I didn't; but I knew when they didn't offer to git up, whoever
'twas wanted help, and I put across the lot to 'em, and sure enough
'twas Armidy and Jerry. I looked her over, and see by the way she
lay that one of her arms was broke, anyway, and stepped over to where
Jerry was, and sir! he was as dead as Moses! Head struck right on a
big stone and broke his neck--his head hung down like that," letting
his hand fall limply from the wrist.

"Does she know?" said Lucas.

"No, and I hope she won't for a spell. She hadn't come to when I left
her."

Lucas struck the horse with the end of the reins to urge him on.

"There, now you can see 'em," said Theodore, rising in his seat and
pointing down the road. Lucas followed his example, and looking before