It was growing dusk when the lights of the town where we were to stop appeared ahead. Suddenly it struck me that I didn't hear the hoofs of Larry's steed. Turning round to speak to him, he was nowhere visible. "Larry, come on, will you?" I shouted, but Larry didn't reply. "The boy can't have had the folly to go back with his broken head to run the chance of another knock down," observed my uncle. "We must go and see what he has been after." We accordingly turned round and rode back, I galloping ahead and shouting his name. I hadn't gone far when I saw his pony standing by the side of the road. As I got up to the animal, there was Larry doubled up on the ground. I called to him, but he made no reply. Leaping from my horse, I tried to lift him up. Not a sound escaped his lips. I was horrified at finding that to all appearances he was dead. My uncle's first exclamation on reaching me was, "The lad has broken his neck, I'm afraid; but, in case there may be life left in him, the sooner we carry him to a doctor the better. Help me to place him on my saddle, Terence." Stooping down, notwithstanding his weight, my uncle drew up his inanimate body, and placed it before him, whilst I led on his pony. Fortunately, the inn was at the entrance of the town. My uncle, bearing Larry in his arms, entered it with me, and ordering a mattress to be brought, placed him on it, shouting out-- "Be quick, now; fetch a doctor, some of you!" My countrymen, though willing enough to crack each others' pates, are quite as ready to help a fellow-creature in distress; and, as my uncle spoke, two, if not three, of the bystanders hurried off to obey his order. Meanwhile, the stable-boy having taken our horses, my uncle and I did our best to resuscitate our unfortunate follower. His countenance was pale as a sheet, except where the streaks of blood had run down it; his hair was matted, and an ugly wound was visible on his head. On taking off his handkerchief, I discovered a black mark on his neck, which alarmed me more than the wound. I fully believed that my poor foster-brother was dead. Scarcely a minute had elapsed before two persons rushed into the room; one short and pursy, the other tall and gaunt, both panting as if they had run a race. "I have come at your summons, sir!" exclaimed the tall man. "And shure, so have I! and was I not first in the room?" cried the second. "In that, Doctor Murphy, you are mistaken!" exclaimed the tall man, "for didn't I put my head over your shoulder as we came through the door?" "But my body was in before yours, Mr O'Shea; and I consider that you are bound to give place to a doctor of medicine!"