He took two or three steps, wincing painfully, to show what he
could do.

"Nothing but a hip bruise, or I'm guessing wrong," smiled the
white-faced sufferer.

"In any case, you're meat for a doctor," put in Deputy Simmons,
with rough sympathy.

"All right," replied Dick. "I'll walk to the doctor's office.
How many miles is it?"

"About fourteen," replied Simmons. "I'll bring the doctor to
you. It's only about six miles to Ross' farm. I'll borrow his
car. Then I can make good time getting the doctor and bringing
him here. But you'd better sit down before I start."

"Aren't you going to do anything with the car in the creek?" inquired
Prescott.

"What can we do?" demanded the deputy laconically. "There isn't
muscle enough in this crowd to hoist the car up the bank. Anyway,
her engine is damaged beyond a doubt. No, no, Prescott, you sit
down, or lie down, and the rest of you had better wait here until
I bring help. I can be back in three hours at the latest. Darrin,
will you place one of the lamps at either end of where the bridge
was? That may save some farmer from driving in on top of the
car."

Dave complied willingly enough. Then Simmons turned to Prescott.

"Now, you sit down, young man," ordered the deputy.

"I'd rather not," Dick replied. "I haven't anything worse than
a bruise. If I keep too quiet the injury will stiffen all the
more. I must move my hip a bit, or I may be in for a worse time."

"That may be true," nodded the deputy thoughtfully. "Well, be
good, all of you. I'll be back again, as soon as possible."

With that he strode down into the creek, wading through and coming
out at the farther side. Then he was lost among the shadows.

Though it hurt to keep on his feet, Dick, after some minutes,
found that he could move about a little more freely, despite the
pain.

"That shows there are no bones broken," he assured his distressed
chums.

"Does it?" asked Darrin. "Hang it, I wish I knew more about injuries
of this sort. Then I might be able to help you."

"Why, I may be all right, and able to sprint in another half hour,"
smiled Dick.

"Yes, you will!" jeered Greg. "Dick, you won't run for a few
days to come, anyway."

"A nice lot we are, to set out to aid the law's officers," remarked
Dave disgustedly. "Dick can take only a half a step per minute.
Mr. Valden can use only one hand. Greg's head looks gory. The
lot of us couldn't scare a baby now!"

"I can