I felt sick, and my head throbbed violently. There was a weight over me
too, and a curious feeling of confusion, in the midst of which a cool
hand was laid upon my fore-head, and I heard some one say: "He's coming round fast."
I lay quite still for some time, and at last I exclaimed: "What's the matter--is anyone hurt?"
"Lie still, my lad," said a strange voice.
"I know," I cried excitedly. "Did you get him out?"
"Yes, yes, he's all right, and so are you, Grant, my lad," said Mr
Solomon; and just then the room seemed to be darkened, and I heard Ike's
voice: "Is he coming to?"
"Yes. He's all right."
Then I felt that I was wrong about some one else, and that it was that
accident with the cart tipping up at Old Brownsmith's, and it was I who
was hurt.
That all passed away like a cloud, and my full senses seemed to come
back.
"Did you get Master Courtenay out?" I said.
"Yes, my lad, he is quite safe," said a quick sharp voice, which its
owner seemed to me trying to make gentle, and turning my head I saw Sir
Francis.
I tried to get up, but turned giddy.
"Lie still, my lad," he said kindly. "Don't disturb him, Brownsmith.
Good-bye, my lad! I'll see you again."
He shook hands with me and went to the door.
"Well," he said sharply, "are you going to shake hands with the brave
fellow who saved your brother's life?"
The next moment I saw young Philip at my side, and he took my hand in
his, which felt cold and damp like the tail of a cod-fish.
"If he seems to change in any way," said the voice I had heard before,
"send for me directly; but I think he will be all right in an hour or
two. I'm going up to the house."
"Who's that?" I said sharply.
"The doctor, my lad," said Mr Solomon.
"But I'm not ill," I said. "What was it? Did I fall into the water?"
"Foul air overcame you, my lad. How do you feel?"
"Yes, how do you feel?" said Mrs Solomon gently, as she took my hand.
"I'm all right," I said, sitting up, and this time I didn't feel giddy.
"Only something seems to hurt my chest."
"The rope cut you a bit, that's all. It will soon go off."
Through the open door I could see Ike standing watching me attentively,
and as soon as he caught my eye he began to jerk his arm in the air as
if he were crying "Hooray!"
Just then a head came slowly round the door-post, and I saw Shock
staring in at me; but as soon as he saw that I was looking his head was
snatched back.