Farmer Grey, on this, dashed up the hill at a gallop, jumped from his horse and rushed up the steps into the mill to try and stop the arms. He had been a few times in a wind-mill, and knew something about the works. At great risk though of hurting himself, he seized what he thought was the right crank to make the mill stop. His wish was to stop the mill just as the arm to which the miller clung rose above the ground. His heart beat as he watched for the proper moment. It was life or death to the miller. If he stopped it too soon Mark might be dashed to the ground; if he waited till it rose too far he would be thrown up in the air and have a heavy fall. Farmer Grey watched; the right moment came, he stopped the mill, then fast as he could move he ran down the steps, and was in time to receive Mark Page in his arms as he fell without sense from the arm to which he had till that moment clung. Had the miller gone but one round more, he must have dropped, and would surely have been killed.
Farmer Grey undid his neckcloth, and got some water and bathed his face; but it was some time before the miller came to himself. When he did, the first words he said, when he opened his eyes, were, “Well; I did not think, Farmer Grey, that you would have done this for me.”
“Why not, neighbour Page?” asked the farmer, with a smile. “I saw a fellow-man in danger, and of course I ran to help him. I am very glad that God has let me save your life. Give God the praise. Raise your voice to Him for that and all His other mercies.”
“Yes, farmer, I will try,” said Mark Page; “I have been a bad man all my life, and I don’t like to think where I should have been by this time if you had not come to save me.”
“It is the way to amend; the first step I may say, to find out and own that we are bad; so, neighbour, I am truly glad to hear you own that you are bad,” said Farmer Grey. “But I must not let you talk now. Come, we must help your man there. He seems to be badly hurt.”
“He wouldn’t hold on to the last, as I told him,” said Mark.
“Well, Sam; what harm has come to you?”
“Broken a leg, to my belief;” growled out Sam.
Farmer Grey found that Sam had indeed, as he said, broken a leg. Mark was now able to get up and walk, and he went to the house to call his son. Ben had been out till late, and had come home wet, and did not like to be called up.
“Sam Green has broken his leg. Come down quickly I say,” cried out Mark.