He had placed the injured man's head in an easy position, and in his cursory examination found that no limb was broken or joint dislocated; but Elthorne was perfectly insensible, and the young surgeon dreaded the crushing in of ribs and some internal injury. Meantime the strong, hale, imperious man of a few minutes earlier lay there, breathing painfully, while those about him were too much occupied to notice the soft, dull sound of horse's hoofs approaching fast. Neil started as a shadow was thrown across him, and a sharp, metallic voice cried: "Hallo! What's the matter? Anyone hurt?" "Yes; a bad fall," said Neil coldly, as his eyes met those of the speaker, the elder of the two Lydons. "Well, I couldn't help it," said the girl rather resentfully. "No fault of mine." "Poor old guardy!" cried her sister. "Don't look like a ride to-day." "Not much," said Saxa. "Did the horse throw him?" "Fell with him," said Sir Cheltnam. "Looked it," cried Saxa. "I told Dan here that I didn't like the looks of the mount, but it was no use to tell the old man. He always would have his own way, eh, Dan?" "Always," assented her sister. "Burwood," cried Neil impatiently, "will you give me your help?" "Certainly. What shall I do?" "Take these ladies away somewhere; their talking disturbs the patient." "Well, I'm sure!" cried Saxa with a laugh full of annoyance. "But we will not trouble Sir Cheltnam; we know our way back." "Here's someone else coming who will be more civil, perhaps," said Dana to herself, as Isabel, followed by half the household, came hurrying back. Alison was returning too, with some of the stablemen and gardeners bearing a light iron gate and the mattress, with the result that the sufferer was borne carefully back to the house. "I say, Elthorne, though," said Sir Cheltnam, as they followed behind; "no offence to your brother, who is, I dare say, clever enough,--I forgot that he was a doctor,--hadn't you better send to the town for the best man they've got? I'm afraid your old gov'nor has come off badly." "Neil will know," replied Alison. "He will do what is right." "Oh, very well; I only suggested; but I say, hadn't you better make a bit of a clearance? So many people about must be bad for the patient." Alison looked at him curiously, but he said nothing, though the idea did occur to him that it would be satisfactory if his friend were to ride off in company with the Misses Lydon. "How is he, Neil? What do you think of him?" said Alison, after quietly watching his brother for some time. "Bad," said Neil laconically. "I can say nothing yet for certain." "Will he die?" "Please God, no; but the symptoms are serious." "Bones broken?" "No; injury to the spine, I fear. I must have help and further advice." "I'll send on to the town at once for Morrison." "No," said Neil quietly. "This is not a case for a general practitioner. Get me a telegraph form, and have the message sent on at once."