I did so.
“That’s right,” he said. “Now, kick out your legs as if you were swimming.”
I looked up at him sharply, for it seemed so strange for him to say that just after I had been thinking of being nearly drowned. I kicked out, though, as he told me.
“No bones broken there,” he said; and he proceeded then to feel my ribs.
“Capital!” he said after a few moments. “Why, there’s nothing the matter but a little bark off your forehead, and I’m afraid you’ll have a black eye. A bit of sticking-plaster will set you right after all, and we sha’n’t want the doctor.”
“Doctor! Oh! no,” I said. “My head aches a bit, and that place smarts, but it will soon be better.”
“To be sure it will,” he said, nodding pleasantly.—“Well, is he coming?”
This was to Ike, who came up to the open door. “He’s out,” said Ike gruffly. “Won’t be home for two hours, and he’ll come on when he gets home.”
“That will do,” said Old Brownsmith.
“Shall I see ’bout loading up again?”