At the head of the stairs little Jack appeared, with a lighted lamp in his hand. The lamp was shaking so that there was danger of losing the chimney.
“What is it?” asked the boy, in a faint tone.
“He is hurt,” Merry answered.
“How bad?”
“I can’t tell; but he seems to be unconscious.”
Then the blind girl, who had risen from the bed, found her way to the door and took hold of her brother.
“Oh, I hope he is not hurt much!” she half sobbed. “He made such a noise when he was falling. It is terrible.”
Frank went upstairs and got some water, with which he wet the head of the unfortunate man. Old Joe remained silent, except for his heavy, rasping breathing, and Frank began to fear that he was seriously injured.
“If I had some place to take him,” he muttered.
His words were heard by the girl, and she quickly cried: