"O dear! who is hurt?" cried Laura, as she saw the party approaching.
"It's Link Merwell," answered her brother. "Call Mr. Wadsworth; will you?"
"Oh, Dave! so you've caught him; have you?" cried Jessie, while Laura ran off on her errand. "Did you have a fight?"
"Not much of a one, Jessie. He got hurt through a fall."
"What a very foolish boy he has been!" was Belle's comment. "But I think his father is partly to blame. He always allowed Link to do as he pleased on the ranch, and when Link went to the city he always gave him more spending money than was good for him, at least, so my father said."
"It was up to Link to do the square thing on his own account," broke in Roger. "He had all the chance in the world to make a man of himself. But he preferred the company of fellows like Jasniff. And this is the result."
Mr. Wadsworth was in his bungalow writing a letter. He was surprised and gratified at the news brought by Laura, and quickly followed her outside. A little later Mrs. Wadsworth and Mrs. Basswood joined the group. The boys had unbound Link, and now they placed him on a large hammock with a comfortable pillow under his head. As the jewelry manufacturer approached, the sufferer opened his eyes and then struggled to sit up.
"Hello! I guess he isn't hurt as much as we thought," remarked Shadow, in a low tone.
"Maybe he's only playing 'possum," was Luke's comment.
"No, he was hurt, that's sure; the cut on his forehead shows it," answered Dave.