The youth smiled weakly and closed his eyes.
"Get me the hot water," she whispered to Bob.
"Sue's about as good as a doctor," Jeb told him as he turned to obey. "But I ought to have told you to call Lawton."
"I did, sir, and he's coming as soon as possible," Bob replied.
"That's good. That man knows his business."
Bob was back with the water in less than a minute and, ordering them all out of the room, the girl set to work.
"He's asleep, now, and I think he'll pull through," she told the boys when she joined them on the porch a half-hour later, "I'm pretty sure the bullet just missed the lung and it went right through, making a clean wound."
"That's fine," Bob rejoiced. "You know, I believe that there's a lot of good in him only he's evidently weak."
"And he'll have you to thank if he makes good," Jack declared.
Before Bob had time to say anything Charlie came to the door to tell them that breakfast was ready and they lost no time in obeying the summons.