quiet. As I struggled to my feet, with a thousand colored lights flashing before ray eyes, the darkness and silence of the night seemed filled with booming noises like those which are made by a heavy sea when the wind has fallen. I crawled about cautiously through the wet and prickly furze, and at last laid a hand upon the driver's sleeve. He was sitting with his head between his hands, and I could just make him out dimly, now that I was close upon him and certain of his presence. “Are you hurt?” I asked. “You understand what I am saying?” “Hurt!” he responded. “I'm as near killed as makes no matter. I thought you was done for, sir. I called out two or three times when I came to, but you never made a sign.” “I got a kick on the head,” I explained. “It made me stupid for a time. Do you know where we are, or have you lost your way altogether?” “I don't know,” the man responded, with a groan. “I never drove this road before, but it strikes me we're on Barnes Common.” “Is there any house within reach?” I asked. “How should I know?” he answered. “Can you walk?” I asked. “I am dead lame, and cannot put one foot before another.” “I'll try,” he answered, still groaning, and with an effort he scrambled to his feet. Once there he shook himself, and then began carefully to explore his person with both hands from head to foot; kneeling on the ground there I could see him more clearly against the lowering sky, and when, after a prolonged examination of himself, he drew up his figure and stretched his arms, I could see that he was fairly recovered from the shock his fall had given him. “Can you walk?” I asked again, this time with a little touch of impatience. He answered that he thought he could, and began to stamp about the wet grass to assure himself that his limbs were still serviceable. “Mark this place well,” I told him. “Find the road again, and go for help. Don't leave me here all night.” The man promised to be back as soon as possible, and set off at a stumbling walk. I shouted to him from time to time, he answering, and at length I learned that he had found the road. “Keep your heart up, governor!” he called, finally. “I'll be back as soon as ever I can,” and with that he left me.