could convince Ducky that the creature was anything but a most dangerous
foe.

She had rushed into the house and demanded the united efforts of Rupert
and Sylvia to console her, and then was going back to the stable to
insist on Slippy being again ejected, when she saw a wagon drawn by a
fast pair of horses approaching at a rapid rate, and, having noticed
with her sharp little eyes that the man sitting by the driver had only
one arm, the empty coat sleeve being pinned across his chest in true
warrior style, she rushed back into the house, crying shrilly: "Sylvia,
Sylvia, the doctor has got a new patient coming! He has had his arm torn
off in a dreadful accident, and has come to have it put on again!"

"Oh, Rupert, whatever shall we do? The poor fellow may die before help
comes to him, and all through our fault in sending Dr. Plumstead to take
care of Nealie!" cried Sylvia, turning white to the lips at the thought
of the horrors which were about to be thrust upon her.

Rupert stood up and gripped her hand reassuringly.

"Don't worry, old girl; just cut off into the bedroom and hide there
until I am through with the business. I am not a doctor, but I know a
good deal, and I think I can bandage the arm so that the man won't die.
Anyhow, I will have a good try."

Sylvia made a bolt for the bedroom, and, casting herself on Rupert's
bed, rolled her head in a blanket, and, stuffing her fingers in her
ears, remained quaking and shivering until there was a determined clutch
on the blanket, and Ducky squealed in her ears: "Sylvia, Sylvia, Mr.
Wallis has come to take Rockefeller and the wagon home; only Rocky isn't
here to be took, and he--that is, Mr. Wallis--has brought the man with
him what made Father so poor; and now we are going to be well off again,
and Father won't be under a cloud any more. Isn't it splendiferous? Just
scrumptious, I call it! Oh my, but your hair is a sight! You will have
to do it with Rupert's comb, and that has lost half its teeth!" and
Ducky whirled round in an ecstasy of excitement, while Sylvia hastily
made her long mane presentable, and then went out to speak to Mr.
Wallis, quaking a little, truth to tell, from the wonder as to whether
he would be angry to find that they had sent Rocky off upon another long
journey which was certainly not in the contract.

But one look at Rupert's face assured her that she had nothing to be
afraid of on that score, for he was looking simply radiant as he stoo