"That's fortunate," said Jack. "Tell me what I can do for you."
"Why, you see," said Ned, "we came right over here as soon as we heard about Jimmy. But we don't know the right way to go into a house where anybody's dead. We never did it before."
"Jimmy isn't dead," said Jack.
Ned literally gave a great bound. I suppose he felt as if he had been suddenly acquitted of a serious charge of murder.
"Oh, Jack, how lovely!" said he, and threw his arms around Jack's neck. "But I suppose he must be hurt, though?"
"Yes," said Jack, "he's pretty badly hurt."
"Still, if he's alive, we can do something for him," said Ned.
"Oh, certainly!" said Jack. "A great deal can be done for him—a great deal has been done already. But I think you'd better not go in to see him just yet. Wait a few days, till he gets stronger," and Jack hurried away.
We still lingered before the house, and presently a little girl came out, eyed us curiously, and then went to swinging on the chain that supported the weight which kept the gate shut.
"You don't seem to go along," said she, after a while.