Roberts, the
leader and head of the expedition, who was accustomed to give orders
which they promptly obeyed, to be lying there injured and half
fainting! The situation was unparalleled. Hilda Browne looked at
Elspeth Frazer for inspiration, and Elspeth shook her head and looked
at Charlotte Perry, but Charlotte only began to cry, while Iris
Watson, Louise Mawson, Edith Arnold, and Rachel Hunter stood in utter
indecision. Not one of them had the least idea what to do.

Then Gwen stepped forward. Seeing the elder and more influential
members of the party collected round the governess, she, the youngest
girl in the Form, and the one whose opinion had been hitherto scouted,
had not ventured to interfere, but as nobody seemed to be doing
anything at all, she felt licensed to come to the front.

"I took the St. John's Ambulance Course last winter, and passed the
examination," she said quietly. "I know how to give first aid. Perhaps
I'd better try and find out where Miss Roberts is hurt. Can't any of
you get some water?" and she knelt down by the mistress's side, and
began very gently to feel for the extent of the injuries.

The girls were so relieved that anybody had a knowledge of what ought
to be done, that they readily allowed Gwen to assume the
responsibility. Louise Mawson flew to the stream, and fetched some
water in her hat, while Iris helped to unbutton Miss Roberts's boot.
The unfortunate teacher revived a little with the water.

"It's my left leg, below the knee--I felt it crack as I fell," she
gasped painfully.

"I'm afraid it's rather a bad fracture, too," said Gwen, when she had
finished examining her patient.

"Oh! what are we to do?" moaned Louise.

"Can we carry her back to Riggness?" suggested Hilda.

"We mustn't move her an inch till we've put her leg in splints," said
Gwen. "I believe it's only a simple fracture, but it might become
compound with the least jolt. Elspeth, will you take hold of her
foot--yes, the left one, of course--and pull it very gently."

"I--I daren't touch her!" shivered Elspeth, who had turned almost as
white as Miss Roberts.

"I will--I don't mind!" said Charlotte, and she did what was required
under Gwen's directions.

"Now you must hold it like that till we get some splints," continued
Gwen. "You see, if the muscles contract, the rough ends of the broken
bone might pierce a blood vessel, or do dreadful damage. Some of you
bring some sand and make a pillow under her h