"yeR friEND TruLEE
"Dan."
Tony held the letter in his hand for some minutes and stared at those quaint words. He had heard from his mother of the death of old Billy and the burning of his house. But of the trouble later he knew nothing, for letters from home had been few. Now a new light dawned upon his mind. Something must be wrong, and this lad had come all the way for him! But who was Dan? He had never seen nor heard of him before.
"As he stood there Big Sam drew near. He started with surprise as he saw the boy lying on the ground, his little pale face resting upon a rough coat.
"What! what's this?" he exclaimed. "Why, this is the boy who came with me to-day! Has he fallen into the stream? I warned him to be careful."
"Poor boy! poor boy!" he remarked when the story of the brave deed had been related. "Do you think he's badly hurt?"
"Can't say," replied one. "But do ye know who he is?"
"Yes," and Big Sam in a few words told all that he knew.
"We must get him away from this as soon as possible," said the former speaker. "He needs the doctor. Where had we better take him?"
"Look here, boys," said Sam after a moment's thought. "As soon as those horses have munched their oats they shall head for home. I'll take the boy with me, and my wife will care for him. The doctor lives near."