Mat nodded, went out, and having found the doctor, repeated his brother’s wish to him.
The doctor was a little spare man, short in stature and short in manner. He said,—
“We knew some time ago who your brother was, and where you were living, but we were also aware that the patient’s life depended upon utter quiet, and up to two days ago it would have been madness for any of his friends to have seen him, therefore we sent no message to Bulinda Creek: we meant to have let you know to-day or to-morrow. As I told you, a bullet in the lungs is no joke; still if you could get a very easy carriage and take him by short stages, only travelling by day, it might be safe now.”
Mat told Tim the good news, and waited quietly by his brother’s bedside until the squire and the parson sent up to say that they were waiting below.
The three men then had a consultation, the doctor being present, when it was decided to bring a carriage there next day, should the weather be favourable. Mat was requested not to disturb his brother again so sending word to him of their intention, they adjourned to a hotel for the night.
The weather was warm and balmy, and looked as though it would remain so for the next few days, as the carriage drew up on the morrow at the hospital, and Tim was comfortably and slowly driven to the Creek, which he reached in two days’ time, escorted by his brother, the squire and the parson, and not any the worse for his journey.
The doctor, as he had promised Mat, came out to see his patient on the day after his arrival, and finding him all that he could wish, called Mat out on to the verandah, and said,—
“What he wants now is absolute quiet, no exciting talk, no physic, merely cooling drinks; your brother is not likely to live to be an old man, but the best chance of lengthening his days is, when he is well enough, to get him out of this hot climate—a mild sea voyage, if possible, I would suggest, even to going home. But, above all, gentle nursing now.”
Annie, who had entered the verandah during the latter part of the conversation, walked up to Mat, and addressing him and the doctor, said,—
“Let me look after him; I will do so night and day, I promise it.”