now a
new trouble arose owing to Dan'l's wounds showing signs of inflammation
and threatening to set up wildfire. Tummels and Sleep put their heads
together, and determined that a doctor must be fetched.

Now Dr. Chegwidden, who was getting up in years, had engaged an assistant
to take over the St. Ives part of his practice; a young fellow called
Martyn, a little on the right side of thirty, clever in his profession,
and very well spoken of by all. (Indeed, Dr. Chegwidden, that had taken a
fancy to him first-along for his knowledge of Natural History, in due time
promoted him to be partner, so that when the old man died, five or six
years later, Dr. Martyn stepped into the whole practice.) William Sleep at
first was for fetching this young doctor boldly; but Tummels argued that
he was a new-comer from the east part of the Duchy, if not from across
Tamar, and they didn't know enough of him to warrant the risk. So in the
end, after many _pros_ and _cons_, they decided to trust themselves first
to Dr. Chegwidden.

That same night, as the old doctor, after his game of cards with Mr.
Pennefather, sat finishing his second glass of rum and thinking of bed,
there came a ring at the night-bell, which of all sounds on earth was the
one he most abominated. He went to the front door and opened it in a
pretty bad temper, when in walked Tummels and William Sleep together and
told their business. "A man--no need to give names--was lying hurt and in
danger--no matter where. They had a horse and trap waiting, a little
above Chyandour, and, if the doctor would come and ask no questions, the
same horse and trap should bring him home before morning."

The old doctor asked no questions at all, but fetched his greatcoat,
tobacco-pouch, tinder-box, and case of instruments, and walked with them
to the hill over Chyandour, where he found the trap waiting, with a boy at
the horse's head. Tummels dismissed the boy, and in they all climbed; but
before they had driven half a mile the doctor was asked very politely if
he'd object to have his eyes blindfolded.

He chuckled for a moment. "Of course I object," said he; "for--you may
believe it or not--if a man can't _see_ that his pipe's alight he loses
half the enjoyment of it. But two is stronger than one," said he; "and if
you insist I shall submit." So they blindfolded him.

In this way they brought him to Stack's Folly, helped him down from the
cart, and led him into the bare room wh