a huntsman's surgery. 17 



miles a-head, if Will and Charley don't handle him before he 

 reaches it. Forward, away ! come along, you thrusting scoun- 

 drels ! " 



Having cleared the wood, about fifty horsemen showed on 

 the other side, the Leicestershire baronet taking up the run- 

 ning at a determined pace, to retrieve his lost laurels ; and the 

 fences being now lighter, he kept the lead, for about three 

 miles, to the top of a rising ground, from whence the forest 

 might be seen in the distance ; but the pace to the hill told 

 tales on his gallant horse, which staggered and fell at the last 

 gate, rolling over him. The next four leading men left the 

 baronet as he lay ; but Bob Conyers, seeing the accident, went 

 directly to his assistance, and, jumping from his saddle, helped 

 him to rise. 



" You are hurt now, Burnett," he said, " or, at least, ought 

 to be." 



" I feel queer and giddy," replied Sir Francis, in a choking 

 voice ; " but help me on the saddle, I shall be all right again." 



" No, you won't just yet, and if I put you up one side, you 

 would tumble over the other ; it won't do, Burnett, so just sit 

 down where you are ; take a pull at my flask, and let's see if 

 you have any ribs smashed." 



" Oh, nothing of that sort, I believe," said Sir Francis, 

 faintly; "but my left shoulder pains me uncommonly." 



" And no wonder ! " exclaimed Bob, examining his arm ; 

 " it's out of the socket. Here, Stubbins," cried Bob, to a young 

 farmer just riding up, "lend a hand; catch hold of Sir Francis, 

 and hold him tight and strong, as you would a bullock by the 

 horns, whilst I put his shoulder to rights;" — when, taking 

 him by the hand, with his knee under the baronet's armpit, 

 Bob pulled with all his might, and snap went the bone into its 

 proper place again ; but Sir Francis fainted from the pain. 



" Ah, never mind, Stubbins, leave him now, and you go on, 

 my good fellow, with many thanks for your xeady help." 



Whilst Bob was attending his friend, many were brought to 

 grief in the vale below. Markham, Vernon, and three others 

 came down together to the second brook, at which (company 

 giving courage) they charged nearly abreast ; but Markham's 

 horse, being a little in advance, and swerving aside at the 

 brink (having no relish for a second dipping), Vernon and the 

 rest, not being able to pull up, knocked him over, and them- 

 selves, too, pell-mell, into the water, where the Captain, from 

 being undermost, was in a fair way of being drowned, had not 



