"Listen to me, Jed," ordered the doctor. "These young women came here to see what they could do for Sue and Liz. If they hadn't, Liz probably would be dead this minute. They saved her life, Jed Thompson. Now what have you got to say for yourself?" "That right, Doc?" "It's the almighty truth. That isn't all. Lieutenant Wingate, one of their party, rode all the way to Holcomb after me last night and nearly killed his horse. On the way back we were attacked from ambush and the lieutenant's horse was shot from under him. I tried to stick and help him fight the critters off, but he told me to 'get!' Said I was needed here. He's down there yet, maybe dead. Jed Thompson, you ought to get down on your knees and apologize to these women folk. I've half a notion to whale you if you don't." Jed fumbled his hat. "Who do you-all reckon did the attackin'?" he stammered. "I don't know. You ought to know more about it than I do. You folks up here in the hills are altogether too sudden--too handy with your guns. One of these days you will meet some one who is more so." "Ah reckons that young woman's kinder sudden, too," answered Jed, with a sheepish grin at Miss Briggs. "Do you-all say that some critter shot at that feller when he was fetchin' you-all here for Liz an' Sue?" "Yes. They may have got him before this." "Gi' me that rifle!" demanded the mountaineer sternly. "Wait, Jed. What do you propose to do?" questioned the doctor. "Ah'm goin' t' fetch the loot'nant, an' Ah'm goin' t' git the feller that shot you-all up if Ah kin kotch him." "Take the rifle, Jed, and the best of luck," bowed the doctor, handing the weapon to the mountaineer, and reaching into his pocket for the cartridges he had taken from it. "We'll now see what we can do for the sick." Jed was out of the house and across the field at top speed by the time Elfreda had reached the door, after stowing her revolver. "He is right," nodded Grace, regarding Elfreda with sparkling eyes. "You _are_ sudden. I did not think it was in you to be so quick." "Huh! I was scared half to death. It is a wonder I didn't--" "Of course we take that for granted," twinkled Grace. The doctor announced that he would stay until the children got better, all day and night if necessary. There being nothing more for them to do for the time being, Grace and Elfreda joined their companions outside. They had not been outside the cabin very long before Emma uttered a little cry of delight, and excitedly pointed down the trail that led past the cornfield. "Look! Oh, look! There comes Hippy and Mr. Thompson. Didn't I tell you I would fetch Hippy back?" she cried. "Why, Emma, how is that?" wondered Grace. "I con-centrated on him, I did, and--" "She did," glowed Nora, running forward to meet her husband. "You should open an office when you get home," advised Miss Briggs. "Let me see, your business sign should read, 'Miss Dean, Imponderable Concentrator.'"