He came out directly, saddled his own horse and set off with me, asking no questions about the road. It still rained, and the wind was in our faces. I led the way. The doctor followed. He kept up pretty well. He had on a suit of yellow oil-skin, and I could see that some ways back. When we got to the hill near the meadow, I pulled up and told him about the bridge. "You can try it," said I, "if you want to, but I am going to wait till it gets light before I try it again." "You are a pretty fellow," said he. "Why didn't you tell me of that before?" "I was afraid you might not come," said I, "and it was my business to get a doctor." "Go ahead, then," said he, grittily. "Let's try it." "No, thank you," said I. "Once in that brook is enough for me, in one night." "Well, then," said he, "do you know any other bridge or ford?" I knew of a bridge two miles above. The road was like porridge, but we reached it, tried it carefully, and at length got across without swimming. The remainder of the way was comparatively uneventful; and we reached the Sylvesters' just as day began to dawn. Four old ladies were there, including Gram. They greeted the doctor with great glee. He was late--but all was well. Nevertheless, that was a good trip for young Dr. Green. The folks thereabouts said that he must be a staunch young fellow to turn out on such a night. I always felt that they might have added a word for me, too. The doctor told me a while ago that that ride was worth a thousand dollars to him. "Well, then, doctor, suppose we divide that thousand," I said. "Why?" said he. "What for?" "Well, I went after you that night, and piloted you up there," said I. "That's true," said he, "but you must collect your fee of the patients, as I do." "Little there's left for me when you are done with them," said I. I found my cap and comforters about a fortnight after that, in the top of some choke-cherry bushes below the bridge. CHAPTER XXIX THE OUTLAW DOGS Not a little farm work still remained to be done;--our farm work, in fact, was never done. For a fortnight after our return from the camping trip, we were busy, ploughing stubble ground, drawing off loose stones and building a piece of "double wall" along the side of the north field. There was also a field of winter rye to be got in. The Old Squire was, moreover, preparing to re-embark in the lumbering business at certain lots of timber land which he owned up in the "great woods." Loggers would be hired for this work, however, for Addison, Halstead and I expected to attend the district school which was announced to begin on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It was mostly dull, hard work now, all day long, and often we were obliged to husk corn, or dry apples, during the evening. The only amusement for a time was one or two husking parties, and an "apple bee" at the Murches'.