him feverish. Now we'll have just a stitch here
and a stitch there, and keep the lips of the wound together."

As he spoke he took a needle and silk from his case, just as if he had
brought them expecting that they would be wanted, took some lint from
one pocket, a roll of bandage from another, and in an incredibly short
time had the wound bound up.

"Likely to be serious?" said Captain Murray.

"What, this, sir? Pooh! not much worse than a cut finger. Smart a bit.
Poor, weak, girlish sort of a fellow; feeble pulse. Good thing he had
fainted, and didn't know what I was doing. Well, squire, how are you?"

Andrew Forbes lay perfectly still, ghastly pale, and with his eyes
closely shut, till the doctor pressed up first one lid and then the
other, frowning slightly the while.

"Can I get anything for you, doctor?" said Captain Murray.

"Eh? Oh no! He'll be all right. Feels sick, and in a bit of pain.
Let him lie there and go to sleep."

"But he is fainting. Oughtn't you to give him something, or to bathe
his face?"

"Look here!" cried the doctor testily, "I don't come interfering and
crying `Fours about,' or `By your right,' or anything of that kind, when
you are at the head of your company, do I?"

"Of course not."

"Then don't you interfere when I'm in command over one of my gang. I've
told you he's all right. I ought to know."

"Oh yes; let the doctor alone, Murray," said the colonel. "There, I'm
heartily glad that matters are no worse. Foolish fellow to attempt such
a wild trick. You will want a nurse for him, doctor."

"Nurse! for that? Pooh! nonsense! I'm very glad he was so considerate
as not to disturb me over my dinner. I shouldn't have liked that,
Squire Gowan. Didn't do it out of spite because he was not asked to
dinner, did he?"

"Pish! no; he was asked," said Captain Murray. "Yes; you wanted to say
something, Gowan?"

"Only that I will have a mattress on the floor, sir, and stay with him."

"Not necessary, boy," said the doctor sharply.

"Let him be with his friend, doctor," said Captain Murray.

"Friend, sir? I thought they were deadly enemies, trying hard to give
me a job this morning to fit their pieces together again. I don't want
to stop him from spoiling his night's rest if he likes; but if he stays,
won't they begin barking and biting again?"

"Not much fear of that--eh, Frank? There, stay with your friend. I'm
in hopes that you will do him more good than the