"Oh, just after you left me he came up and said something about a tame cat, and I put my hand on his shoulder and began to speak, when he struck out all round, and at the second blow I went down, and don't remember any more. My head is badly bruised, though, I can feel," he added.
Before he reached home, the poor fellow seemed so ill that his wife became alarmed; and as soon as he was safe indoors, she went for the doctor, telling him what had happened, but not mentioning his assailant's name, merely mentioning him as one of his mates.
The doctor ordered his patient to bed at once, and said he would probably be obliged to stay there for a day or two at least.
"Oh, I hope not," said Brown anxiously. "I hope you will pull me round so that I can go to work on Monday morning as usual," he continued feebly, for he felt very ill.
"Now, you must just keep him as quiet as possible, and don't let him worry himself about Monday morning," said the doctor, when he was leaving. "If you keep his head wet with the lotion I will send, and he takes the medicine, he may get all right quickly; but mind! he must keep in bed to-morrow, and must not talk to anybody. Quiet and rest is the only thing that will save him from a long turn in bed," added the doctor.
Jack came home while the doctor was there, and went back with him to get the lotion and medicine.
"You must do your share, my lad, towards keeping the house quiet all day to-morrow," said the doctor, as he handed Jack the bottles.
"I wonder who could have done it? Did my father tell you, sir?"
"No, he didn't; and you must not ask him just now. Don't ask any questions; wait till he is well enough to tell you all about it."
The doctor's manner impressed Jack, and he feared that his father must be very ill. What a misfortune that would be for them just now, for the outside work on which he was engaged could not wait, and so another man would have to be found who could do it.