"Get a bed ready and we'll be back in about half an hour," Jeb said as they drove off.
"Oh, I do hope that he isn't badly hurt," Sue said as she turned back to re-enter the house. "It would be too awful if he should die before he has a chance to make good."
"Isn't there a doctor anywhere near here?" Bob asked as he followed her in.
"Not nearer than Cold Springs. His name is Lawton. Suppose you try to get him on the phone while I get the bed ready. He has a flivver and ought to get here in a couple of hours if he's at home."
Bob got the number after what seemed a long time and, to his great relief, the doctor was at home and promised to get there as fast as his car would bring him. Meantime Jack had built a fire and put on water to heat and, after that there was nothing to do except wait for them to bring the wounded man in.
It was not long, however, before they heard the sound of wheels and they had hardly more than gotten on to the porch when the buckboard turned in at the gafe. Royce looked very white as they lifted him carefully from the seat where Jeb had been holding him.
"Is he dead?" Sue gasped as she caught sight of his white face.
"Only fainted," her father assured her.
Carefully they placed the wounded man on the bed and Sue hastened to fetch a basin of cold water, and, under her skilled ministration, he soon opened his eyes with a deep sigh.
"Don't try to speak," Sue ordered, laying her cool hand on his brow.