"Yes, sir," said the boy. "I mean that I don't feel too used up."
The Supervisor nodded and rode on ahead. For a couple of miles or so, they rode single file, and in spite of the boy's bold announcement that he was not too badly shaken up, by the time he had ridden nearly an hour more in the hot sun his head was aching furiously and he was beginning to stiffen up. Accordingly he was glad when a cabin hove in sight, and he cantered up to ask if they might call for a drink of water.
"We stop here," was the laconic reply.
As they rode up a big man came out of the house, which was quite a fair-sized place, to meet them.
"Well, Merritt," he said, "what have you got for me this time?" motioning to the boy.
"No patient for you, Doc," said Merritt; "one for your wife."
The mountain doctor laughed, a great big hearty laugh.
"Violet," he called, "you're taking my practice away from me. Here's a patient that says he won't have me, but wants you."
Immediately at his call, a small, slender woman came to the porch of the house, and seeing the doctor helping Wilbur down from the saddle, stepped forward.
"I can walk all right," said Wilbur when the doctor put out a hand to steady him. "I just wanted a drink of water."