“We’re sinking!” Kitty panted, without letting up on her work.
“Don’t be frightened,” Mr. Jay said calmly. “We’ll make it, if the storm doesn’t strike us.”
As she bailed, Doris scarcely dared glance at the sky, so ominous had it become. The wind, which had steadily freshened, suddenly descended upon the tiny craft, sending huge waves pounding against it. Water flooded over the side. Doris and Kitty worked madly, feeling that they were fighting a losing battle.
“We’re almost there!” Mr. Jay cried encouragingly. “Don’t give up!”
A jagged ribbon of lightning illuminated the black sky and for an instant Doris caught a glimpse of the shore ahead. It gave her hope and she bailed with renewed strength.
Then the very clouds seemed to split, pouring down a deluge of rain. Everything was blotted from view, and the girls lost all sense of direction. Would they ever reach shore?
“We’ve made it!” the miser cried jubilantly a moment later.
At first the girls could see nothing; then gradually they began to distinguish the shoreline. The moment shallow water was reached they stepped from the boat and helped drag it up on the beach.
Without stopping to make the craft fast to the old log, the three set off through the woods at a run. The rain was now coming down in torrents and even the branches of the trees did not afford protection.
“What sights we must be!” Doris gasped.
Scarcely were the words out of her mouth, when there came a dazzling flash of lightning, accompanied by a deafening crash of thunder. So close was the charge, that Doris and Kitty involuntarily halted, huddling together as though for protection.
Before they could express their fright in words, they heard the splitting of a tree limb. Terrified, they gazed upward to see the large branch of an oak falling toward the path!
Kitty emitted a terrified scream, but was too frightened to move. Doris saw at a glance that the falling limb would not strike where the girls were standing, but that Mr. Jay was directly in its path.
“Look out!” she cried frantically.
Too late came the warning. The branch struck the ground with a loud crash, sweeping the old miser beneath the debris!
CHAPTER XIX
A Hint of the Past
As Doris saw the old man fall heavily to the ground, she rushed forward with Kitty close behind her. Frantically they pulled at the branches, trying to reach the miser. He lay on his back, white and motionless.
“Mr. Jay, are you hurt?” Doris cried.
There was no response, no movement of the body.
“Oh, he’s been killed!” Kitty wailed. “The limb struck him on the head. I saw itl”
By this time the girls had succeeded in dragging aside the branch. Doris knelt down, unmindful of the rain and mud, and took the old man’s limp wrist in her hand. She could feel his pulse; the beat was weak but regular.
“He’s still alive,” she murmured in relief. “We must get him to the cabin.”
It was only a short distance farther down the path, but the girls were not at all sure that they could carry the limp form. As they were trying to lift him from the ground, he revived slightly. They managed to get him to his feet, supporting him on either side.
“Are you badly hurt?” Doris demanded anxiously.
The old man mumbled something, but the words were unintelligible.
“He’s stunned,” Kitty said. “Thank goodness he wasn’t killed.”
They half-carried, half-dragged him down the path to the cabin. At their approach the dog came growling at them, but a sharp command from Doris silenced him.
Entering the cabin the girls placed Mr. Jay carefully upon the tiny cot. He groaned and uttered a few words which they could not distinguish. Doris quickly lighted the oil lamp, for it had grown very dark. As its rays fell upon the miser’s face, they could see that he was deathly pale; a small gash had been cut in his forehead.
“I’m afraid he is badly hurt,” Doris said quietly. “One of us must go for help.”
“I’ll go,” Kitty offered. “I’d be afraid to stay here alone.”
She slipped out of the cabin and vanished into the storm. As the door closed behind her, Mr. Jay stirred slightly and groaned again. Doris crossed over to his bedside, trying to arrange the pillows more comfortably.
“Are you in great pain?” she asked.
The old man’s eyes fluttered open, but he stared at her without recognition.
Doris removed his wet boots and set a pan of water on the stove to heat. The room was chilly and damp, so she added several sticks to the smoldering coals. When the water was warm, she took a clean cloth and gently bathed Mr. Jay’s forehead. She searched the cupboards for antiseptic, but could find nothing. As Mr. Jay became more restless, she took up her vigil at his bedside.
“Don’t try to move,” she murmured, as the old man tore at the covers. “You must lie still.”
Doris glanced nervously toward the door. Why did Kitty not come with aid? Surely she had been gone hours. She felt so helpless. If the man became violent, she feared she could not control him.
She gazed anxiously down at the white face and thought again that Mr. Jay had once been a handsome man. She saw the thin lips move ever so slightly, and bent nearer.
“The Gates—the Gates,” she heard him mutter.
Doris placed a soothing hand upon his forehead and for a moment he remained quiet. Then he moved restlessly, plucking at the blankets.
“The ring—” he murmured. “The ring—I have it. I have it with me.”
Just at that moment the door opened and Kitty, followed by Mrs. Mallow and Dave, hurried to the bedside. Doris turned in relief to them.
“He’s delirious,” she said quietly. “I’m afraid his skull may be fractured.”
“We’ve sent Marshall to town for a doctor,” Mrs. Mallow told her.
In her competent way she took charge, but there was really nothing more to be done until the doctor arrived. The old miser tossed restlessly several times, but did not speak again.
All were relieved when at last Marshmallow arrived with the physician. Anxiously they awaited the verdict. After a brief examination the doctor declared that Mr. Jay had only been stunned and in a short time would be as well as before. He dressed the head wound and soon took his departure, but not until the miser had recovered sufficiently to sit up.
“Mr. Jay, you must come up to our cabin, where we can look after you properly,” Mrs. Mallow insisted.
The old man shook his head, forcing a smile.
“Thank you, but I am quite all right now. I was only stunned. I feel as fit as a fiddle.”
“Marshmallow and I will stay with you, then,” Dave offered.
“There’s no need.” To demonstrate that he had regained his strength, Mr. Jay arose and walked halfway across the room.
In spite of his protests Mrs. Mallow and the others insisted upon remaining until after he had partaken of his noonday meal. Then they reluctantly left, determining, however, to keep close watch of the cabin during the day. Mr. Jay was profuse in his thanks for what they had done, particularly expressing his gratitude to Kitty and Doris.