e heard snapping sounds as loud as shots from a small pistol, and
was stabbed by excruciating pains in his legs. Then he became aware
that the machine was being lifted off of him. People were gathering in a
circle round him, gabbling.

His forehead was bedewed with the sweat of anguish, and he tried to wipe
off this dampness, but failed. He could not get his arm that far.

"Nev' mind," a policeman said; and George could see above his eyes the
skirts of the blue coat, covered with dust and sunshine. "Amb'lance be
here in a minute. Nev' mind tryin' to move any. You want 'em to send for
some special doctor?"

"No." George's lips formed the word.

"Or to take you to some private hospital?"

"Tell them to take me," he said faintly, "to the City Hospital."

"A' right."

A smallish young man in a duster fidgeted among the crowd, explaining
and protesting, and a strident voiced girl, his companion, supported his
argument, declaring to everyone her willingness to offer testimony in
any court of law that every blessed word he said was the God's truth.

"It's the fella that hit you," the policeman said, looking down on
George. "I guess he's right; you must of been thinkin' about somep'm'
or other. It's wunnerful the damage them little machines can do--you'd
never think it--but I guess they ain't much case ag'in this fella that
was drivin' it."

"You bet your life they ain't no case on me!" the young man in the
duster agreed, with great bitterness. He came and stood at George's
feet, addressing him heatedly: "I'm sorry fer you all right, and I don't
say I ain't. I hold nothin' against you, but it wasn't any more my fault
than the statehouse! You run into me, much as I run into you, and if you
get well you ain't goin' to get not one single cent out o' me! This lady
here was settin' with me and we both yelled at you. Wasn't goin' a step
over eight mile an hour! I'm perfectly willing to say I'm sorry for you
though, and so's the lady with me. We're both willing to say that much,
but that's all, understand!"

George's drawn eyelids twitched; his misted glance rested fleetingly
upon the two protesting motorists, and the old imperious spirit within
him flickered up in a single word. Lying on his back in the middle of
the street, where he was regarded an increasing public as an unpleasant
curiosity, he spoke this word clearly from a mouth filled with dust, and
from lips smeared with blood.

It was a word which interested the