king wound in the vicinity of
his lungs, and Chris Gore was leaning against the palings, big crimson
drops falling from his shoulder to the frozen earth.

Amos, at once recognising the fact that Snyder was the most grievously
wounded, raised the little German lad's head tenderly on his arm as he
implored those nearest to keep the crowd back, and when the excited
ones in the rear finally understood what was required, every order
given by Amos, boy though he was, received implicit obedience.

Rough men lifted the little lad as gently as his widowed mother could
have done, and one asked:

"Where does he live?"

"On Frog Lane.[C] Chris Gore must be attended to also."

"I can take care of myself. It isn't much of a hurt, this on my
shoulder."

"But it ought to be dressed at once, and I am not certain you should
be allowed to walk," Amos said, hurriedly.

[Illustration]

"There will be no danger; you can go with me. There are plenty who
will see that poor little Chris is cared for. Some one should go ahead
to tell his mother he is hurt, and to call a surgeon."

"I'll take care of that part of it," Hardy Baker cried, quickly.
"Leave it to me."

Amos seized the excited barber before he could move, for he knew how
Hardy would break the sad news to the poor mother, and did not intend
she should suffer more than was absolutely necessary.

"Here is Master Revere!" he said, with a sigh of relief, as he
struggled to prevent the apprentice from leaving him. "He is the one
who should speak to Mrs. Snyder, not you, Hardy. Take hold of Chris a
moment while I speak with him."

Master Piemont's assistant was not pleased at thus being prevented
from appearing as one of the principal characters in this terrible
drama; but Chris Gore, understanding as well as did Amos, why Hardy
should not be allowed to go to the widow's home, forced him to remain
by saying:

"You must stay with me until I can get home."

"Are you hurt very much?"

"It may be that I am," Gore replied, knowing that if he made light of
his wounds Hardy would consider himself at liberty to act upon his own
suggestion.

Hurriedly Amos explained to the goldsmith what had occurred, and what
he desired the latter to do, after which he came back to his two
friends.

"Master Revere will go to poor Chris's mother, and since there are more
than enough to give him all the care he needs, we can attend to you."

"Do you think the little fellow will die?" Gore asked