Finally, when it was getting along toward sunset they heard an automobile coming, and upon sighting it discovered that the farmer, as well as a fat little man with a professional air, occupied the seat of the runabout.
When the physician looked at Leslie’s work he smiled and patted the boy patronizingly on the head.
“Keep on doing this sort of thing, son,” he observed, “and some of these days you are bound to be a good surgeon. I never saw a finer bit of work done, and I’ve been an army surgeon in my time, too, during the Spanish-American war.”
Mr. Holwell said that since they were no longer needed it would be wise for his party to take its departure, especially since the trail led through the dark woods, and they had some two miles to cover before arriving at the lake. So, overwhelmed by the gratitude of Josh’s parents, they presently started forth.
In the gloaming they covered the last half mile of their journey, and the thoughts of the kind-hearted minister were very pleasant ones as he considered that he had been given a gracious opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Him who delighted in going about, Sunday or week-day, doing good to all who were in distress.
“There, you can see the light of our campfire over the water!” said Leslie, presently. “And we’ll soon be in the boat pulling across. My turn to row, remember, Dick, if you please.”
CHAPTER XXI
THE BROTHERLY SPIRIT
“Tell us all about it, please!” was the way the party was greeted as the boat drew to shore.
“Will little Josh get over his hurt, do you think?” asked Ban Jansen.
“And did Leslie, here, show what he could do along the line of first aid to the injured?” demanded Elmer Jones. “I’ve seen him do stunts that took my breath away, and I just guess he ought to be able to stop an artery from bleeding.”