'Humph!' said the doctor.
'Who else could I leave?'
'No one, of course,' and Dr Tom applied the whip vigorously.
A cloud of dust rose around the buggy and they came to a stop; the sudden jerk nearly threw them out.
One of the horses was down. With a muttered curse, Jim Dennis jumped out and urged the animal to rise. The tired horse struggled to his feet and, as Jim sprang into the buggy, moved on again.
'Dead beat,' said Dr Tom; 'but he'll last to your place.'
In half an hour they saw Dennis's homestead in the distance, and again the lash came down on the horses' backs, wielded by Dr Tom's vigorous arm.
It was a moment of terrible suspense to Jim Dennis when the buggy pulled up, and Dr Tom, springing out with more activity than might have been expected, hurried into the cottage.
Jim was almost afraid to follow him.
If the little chap was dead he felt he could not bear the blow.