第12章

"Arrah，yemaysayit。Buttheydobetellin’methathisriverencetherebeyant，hestoodinundertheblow。Godblesshissowl！It’sahairoheis——ahairo！"

SherantowardShockasiftoembracehim，butShock，whohadcometoknowherways，avoidedher，dodgingbehindthedoctor。

"Notatall，"hesaid。"Anymanwouldhavedonethesame。"

"Now，Godpardonyourriverenceforthelieye’vetold。"

"ButhowdidYOUgetintotherow？"askedthedoctor，turningtoShock。

"Andyemayask，"interruptedMrs。Carroll。"It’sallavthatsquirmin’littlewormofaFrenchman。Maythedivilflyawaywidhim！I’mnotsayin’butCarrollthereisquickwithhistongue，andbetimeswithhishands，too——thehighspiritthathehas！butsure，it’satinderhearthecarriesinsideavhimifthey’dlavehimbe。"

Meantimethedoctorhadbeenproceedingwithhisexamination。

"Hehaslainaweeklikethis，eh？"

"Yes，aweek，withneveramovetillhim，andniveralookoutavhislovelyeyes。"

"Buthetakeshisnourishment，doeshe？"

"Yes，onceinawhileacupofmilkwithaweedrapavwhiskyintillit，doctor。"

Thedoctornodded。

"Won’thurthim。Nottoomuch，mind。Ateaspoonfulinalargecup。"

Thedoctorstoodforsomemomentsafterhehadfinishedhisexamination，lookingdownuponthelittlewhiteface，sowasted，sobeautiful。Thenheshookhasheadsorrowfully。

"Ah，doctor，darlin’！"burstoutMrs。Carroll。"Don’tsaythewurrd！

Don’tsaythewurrd！"

AtthisCarrollliftedhisheadandenquiredbriefly，"Willhegetbetter，doctor？"

"Hehasachance。Hehasaslightchance。"

AndwithalookatShockhelefttheroom。AfterspeakingafewwordsofcomfortandhopetothemotherShockfollowedthedoctorfromthehouse。

"Itisacasefortrephining，Ifear，"saidthedoctor。"Aclearcase。Itistheonlychancehehas，anditoughttobedoneatonce。"

"Youmeanto—day？"askedShock。

"Yes，to—day。But——"Thedoctorhesitated。"Iamnotready。"

"Icouldgetyourinstrumentsandanythingelseyoumightorder，"

saidShockeagerly。

"No，itisnotthat，"saidthedoctor。"Thetruthis，Ihavenotthenerve。Niceconfessiontomake，isn’tit？Lookatthathand。"

Heheldouthishandashespoke，andShocksawthatnotonlythehand，butthewholearm，indeedthewholegauntframeofthedoctor，wasallinatremble。Shock’sexperienceinthecitywardsmadehimrealisesomethingoftheshameandhumiliationofthemomenttothedoctor。Hehastenedtoturnhisattentioninahappierdirection。

"Youhaveperformedthisoperationbefore？"

"Yes，frequentlyintheoldcountry，onceortwicehere。Ihaveseensomepractice，sir，"saidthedoctor，straighteninghimselfup。"Butthereitis，"holdingoutagainhisshakinghand。

"Well，"saidShock，"wemustwaittill——tilleverythingisready。"

"Yes，"saidthedoctor。"NotbeforethreedayswouldIdaretotouchaknife。Inthreedays，sir，Ishallreturn，bringingalltheappliancesnecessary，andintheintervalthetimewillnotbeentirelylost。Weshalltakeeverymeanstotonetheboyup。Bytheway，Isupposethereissomeoneinthevillagewithsufficientnervetorenderassistance？"

"Idonotknow。ThereisonlyonemaninthiscountrywhomIcanthinkofasbeingreliableforanaffairofthiskind。Doyouhappentoknowofthecowboy，Ike？"

"Theveryman，"saidthedoctor。"HelivesontheStantonranchbetweenthisandthefort。Wecanseehimonourway。"

BeforethedoctorleftforhomehehadcalledtopreparetheCarrollsfortheoperation。AtfirstTimwouldnothearofit。Hefiercelydeclaredthathewouldkillanymanthatdaredputaknifeonhislad。Hiswifewasequallydeterminedthattheoperationshouldnottakeplace。

"Verywell，"saidthedoctor，"thenyourboywilldie，and，Carroll，Ishallhaveyouarrestedformanslaughterforthwith。"

ThisaspectofthecasemadelittleimpressionuponCarroll。

"Iftheladdies，"hesaidhoarsely，"divilacarewhathappenstome。"

ButMrs。Carrollbecameanxiouslydesirous。thattheoperationshouldbeperformed。

"AndsurethegoodGodwouldn’tbeaftertakin’himfromus，fordidn’thisriverencethereputupaprayerthatwouldmelttheheartoftheangels，andIdidpromiseGodmeselfaralefast，withniveraneggnorabitofafishtomyteeth，ifheshouldlavehimwidus。AndCarroll，darlin’，ye’llnotbeafterbreakin’ye’rewife’sheart，normakin’herawidow？Justyecomeon，doctor，andniverawordhe’llsaytillye。"

Andsoitcame，inthreedaysthatthedoctorreturned，clean，steady，andfitforhiswork，withIke，Shock，andTheKidonhandashisassistants。

"IaskedthedoctorifImightcomealong，"saidthelatter，explaininghispresence，"andthoughhedidnotencourageme，hereI

am。"

"Wewillmakehimnurseoroutsideguard，"saidShock。"Wewillgivehimfullchargeofthefamily。"

"Yes，"repliedthedoctor，inhisgentle，professionalvoice，"thefamily。Letthemberemovedtosomedistance。Thehousemustbekeptentirelyquiet，entirelyquiet。Aninterruptionmightbeserious。

Mr。andMrs。Carrollandthechildrenhadbetterbetakenawaytosomeremotedistance，sothatwemayhaveinthehouseperfectpeace——perfectpeace。"

ButinCarrolltheymetanunexpecteddifficulty。

"NotafutofmewillIlave，"heannounced，andfromthispositionwasimmovable。

"Letussaynomoreatpresent，"saidthedoctorquietlytohisassistants。"Therearevariousmethodsofremovinganobstruction。I

havefoundvariousmethods。"

AndsoTheKid，withMrs。Carroll，Tim，Nora，Eileen，Jimmie，andlittleMichael，setofforJumpingRockatthelake。Aftertheprocessionhadformed，however，anotherdifficultyarose。Michaelrefusedpointblanktogo，andonbeingurgedthrewhimselfdownuponthegroundandkickedandyelledvociferously。

"Indade，there’snouseoftryin’tomakehimdowhathedon’twant，"saidhismother，withaconvictionbornoflongexperienceofMichael’stempersandways。

Theprocessionhalted，TheKidlookinghelplessandfoolish。Invainheofferedhiswatch，hispistolwiththechargedrawn。Allhispossessionsavailednotatall。

Inhisdesperationhewasonthepointofproceedingtoextrememeasureswhenavoice，singularlysweetandmusical，soundedbehindhim。

"PerhapsIcanhelp，"itsaid。

TheKidswunground，hatinhand。ItwasMarion，theOldProspector’sdaughter。

"Ishallbeprofoundlythankful。Andforthatmatterdoubtlesshewill，too，forIhadcometotheconclusionthatthesituationdemandedachangeoftactics。"

ThegirlsatdownbesideMichael，andliftinghimtoherkneebegantobeguilehimfromhispresentmiserywithpromisesofsongs，andsnatchesoftales，whosepowersofenchantmenthadevidentlybeenprovedinsimilarcircumstances，tillfinallyhisinterestwasdiverted，hiscuriosityexcited，andatlengthMichaelwaspersuadedtojointhecompanywithsmilingexpectationofgoodthingstocome。

"Iwishyouwouldconfidetomethesecretofyourpower，Miss——"

saidTheKid，withamostcourteousbow。

"IamMarionMowbray，"shesaidsimply。

"MissMowbray，"continuedTheKid，"Iknowyourfatherverywell，and"——lookingintothegirl’seyes，soverypiercingandsoveryblack——"Ishouldliketoknowhisdaughter，too。"

ButMariondevotedherselfchieflytoMichael，givingsuchattentionasshecouldtotheolderandmoreactiveandmoreventurousEileenandJimmie，andTheKidfoundhisdutiestoMrs。Carroll，Tim，andNorasoengrossingthathehadlittletimetobestowanyfurtherattentionuponthegirl。

WhileMarionwithtalesandsongsheldtheyoungerportioninanenthralledcircleaboutherupontheJumpingRock，TheKiduponthelakeshorebelowwasusinghismoststrenuousendeavourstomakethehourpasshappilyforMrs。Carroll，Tim，andNora。

Meantime，inthebackroomoftheStopping—PlaceDr。Burtonwasmakinghispreparationsforaverycriticaloperation。AllhismovementsweremarkedbyaswiftdexterityandanattentiontodetailthatgaveShocktheimpressionthatherewasamannotonlyamasterofhisart，but，forthetimebeingatleast，masterofhimself。Helaidoutandthoroughlydisinfectedhisinstruments，preparedhislint，bandages，sponges，andexplainedclearlytoeachofhistwoassistantstheparthewastotake。Shock，whohadhadsomeslightexperienceinthesurgicaloperationsattendantuponanactivefootballcareer，wastobetheassistantinchief，beingexpectedtotakechargeoftheinstruments，andtotakepart，ifnecessary，intheactualoperation。Ikewasinstructedtobeinreadinesswithabasin，sponge，andanythingelsethatmightbedemanded。

"Weshallnotgiveyoumuchtodo，"saidthedoctor，"butwhatyouhavetodomustbedonepromptlyandwell。Now，then，"hecontinued，liftinghisscissorswithaflourishwhichdidnotfailtoimpressCarroll，whowasseatednearby，"weshallproceed。"

"Willithurt，doctor？"groanedCarroll，gazingupontherowofinstrumentswithfascinatedeyes。

"Beforewearefinisheditisquitepossiblethepatientmaybeconsciousofnervousdisturbance，accompaniedbysensationsmoreorlesspainful。"

"Willithurt，blankyou！"repliedCarroll，whosehoarsevoiceshowedtheintensityofhisrepressedemotion。

"AsIwassaying，"saidthedoctorinhiscalm，eventone，andexamininghisinstrumentsonebyonewithaffectionatecare，"thereiseverypossibilitythatthenervecentresmaybe——"

"Oh，"groanedCarroll，stillfascinatedbytheinstrumentsthatthedoctorwashandlingwithsuchlovingtouches，"willsomeoneshutupthisblank，blatherin’fool？He’ddriveamancrazy，sohewud！"

"Mr。Carroll，wemustbecalm。Wemustbeentirelycalm，"observedthedoctor。"Now，"continuinghismonologue，"weshallremovethehairfromthefieldofoperation。Cleanlinessinanoperationofthiskindisofprimeimportance。Recentscientificinvestigationsshowthatthechiefdangerinoperationsisfromsepticpoisoning。

Yes，everyprecautionmustbetaken。Thenweshallbathewiththisweaksolutionofcarbolic——threepercentwillbequitesufficient，quitesufficient——theinjuredpartsandthesurroundingarea，andthenweshallexaminetheextentofthewound。Iftheduramaterbepenetrated，andthearachnoidcavitybeopened，thentherewillbeinallprobabilityaveryconsiderableextravasationofblood，andbythistime，doubtless，seriousinflammationofallthesurroundingtissues。Theaperturebeingverysmallandthedepressionsomewhatextensive，itwillbenecessarytoremove——tosawout，inshort——aportionoftheskull，"liftingupafierce—lookinginstrument。

Carrollgroaned。

"Letmeout！"hewhisperedhoarsely，risingandfeelinghiswaywithoutstretchedhandtothedoor。"Ican’tstandthisbloodydivil！"

Ikeopenedthedoor，whileShocksprangtosupportthegropingman。

"Lavemebe！"hesaidfiercely，withacurse，andpushingShockbackhestumbledout。

"Ah，"saidthedoctor，withevidentsatisfaction，"therearevariousmethodsofremovingobstructions，asIhavesaid。Weshallnownolongerdelay。"Andheproceededtoclipawaythegoldencurlsfromaboutthewound。"These，"hesaid，holdingthemupinhisfingersandlookingatthemadmiringly，"wehadbetterpreserve。Thesebeautifullocksmaybepricelesstothemother，pricelessindeed。

Poor，bonnieladdie！Nowweshallprepare，weshallasepticallyprepare，thewholefieldofoperation。Aspongethat’sit。Thatwilldo。Now，letusexaminetheextentoftheinjury，"feelingwithdextrousfingersabouttheedgeoftheslightwound，andoverallthedepressedsurface。

"Ah！asIfeared。Theinternaltableiswidelycomminuted，andthereispossiblyinjurytotheduramater。Wemustexciseasmallportionofthebone。Thescalpel，please。"Then，afterlayingbackwithafewswift，dexterousmovementsthescalpfromaboutthewoundedparts:"Thesaw。Yes，thesaw。Theremovalofasection，"hecontinued，inhisgentlemonotone，beginningtosaw，"willallowexaminationoftheinternaltable。Asponge，please。Thankyou。Andiftheduramater——"HerethestillnessoftheroomwasbrokenbyasoundfromIke。Thedoctorglancedathim。

"Thisisaverysimplepartoftheoperation，"heexplained，"averysimplepart，indeed，andattendedwithabsolutelynopain。Asponge，please。Thankyou。Nowtheforceps。Yes。"

Hesnippedoffasectionofthebone。Ikewinced"Ah，asIfeared。

Thereisconsiderablecomminutionandextravasation。Yes，andowingtothelongdelay，anddoubtlesstothewetapplicationswhichtheuninitiatedinvariablyapply，pus。Now，thecarbolicsolution，"toIke，whowasstandingwithwhitefaceandsetteeth。

"Youaredoingremarkablywell，"saidthedoctorencouraginglytohim，"remarkablywell。Toanovicethisattimespresentsashockingaspect。Nowweshallattackthisdepression。Theelevator，please。

No，theelevator，Mr。Macgregor。Thereitlies。Yes。Nowgently，gently。Justholdthatinposition，"offeringShocktheendoftheinstrumentwhichhewasusingasalevertoraisethedepressedportionoftheskull。"Theotherscalpel，please。Now，aslightpressure。Gently，gently。Wemustbeextremelycarefuloftheedges。

No，thatwillnotdo。Thenwemusthaverecoursetothetrephine。"

Heliftedtheinstrumentashespoke，andgazedatitwitheverymarkofaffection。

"Thisisoneofthemostbeautifulofalltheinstrumentsofmodernsurgery。Alovelyinstrument，alovelyinstrument，indeed。Letussecureourfirmsurface。Thatseemssatisfactory，"beginningtobore。

ThiswastoomuchforIke。Hehastilysetdownthebasinandspongeonachair，thenstraightenedupinavainefforttoregainmasteryofhimself。

"Ah，"saidthedoctor。"PoorIke！Thespiritiswilling，butthesympatheticnerveisevidentlyseriouslydisturbed，therebyaffectingthevasomotor，andwilllikelyproducecompletesyncope。

Layhimdownonhisbackimmediately。"

"No，"saidIke，"Iaintnogood。I’mgoingout。"

"Now，"saidthedoctorcalmly，whenShockandhehadbeenleftalone，"Ihopetherewillbenomoreinterruption。Wemustproceedwiththetrephining。Ah，beautiful，beautiful！"hisquickmoving，deftfingerskeepingpacewithhismonologue。

"Therenow，"afterafewminutes’workwiththetrephine，"thedepressionislifted。Weshallsoonbefinished。"

Withsupple，firmfingershesewedthescalp，dressedthewound，andwasdone。

"ThankGod！"saidShock，withalongbreath。"Willhelive？"

"Itisaquestionnowofstrengthandvitality。Iftheinflammationisnottoowidelyextendedthechildmayrecover。Younglifeisverytenacious。"

Thedoctorwashedhishands，wipedhisinstruments，putthemcarefullyawayintheircase，andsatdown。

"Doctor，"saidShock，"thatisagreatwork。Eventoalaymanthatoperationseemswonderful。"

Underthestimulusofhisprofessionalworkthedoctor’sface，whichbuttwodaysbeforehadbeensoftandflabby，seemedtohavetakenonafirmer，harderappearance，andhiswholemanner，whichhadbeenshufflingandslovenly，hadbecomealertandself—reliant。

"Amanwhocandothat，doctor，candogreatthings。"

Ashadowfellonhisface。Thelookofkeenintelligencebecameclouded。Hisveryframelostitserectpoise，andseemedtofalltogether。Hisprofessionalairofjauntycheerfulnessforsookhim。

Hehuddledhimselfdownintohischair，puthisfaceinhishands，andshuddered。

"Mydearsir，"hesaid，liftinguphisface，"itisquiteuseless，quitehopeless。"

"No，"saidShockeagerly，"donotsaythat。SurelytheAlmightyGod—

—"

Thedoctorputuphishand。

"Iknowallyouwouldsay。HowoftenhaveIheardit！ThefaultisnotwiththeAlmighty，butwithmyself。Iamstillhonestwithmyself，andyet——"Herehepausedforsomemoments。"Ihavetried——

andIhavefailed。Iamawreck。Ihaveprayed——prayedwithtearsandgroans。Ihavedonemybest。ButIambeyondhelp。"

ForafullminuteShockstood，gazingsadlyatthenoblehead，thefacesomarred，thehuddlingform。Heknewsomethingoftheagonyofremorse，humiliation，fear，anddespairthatthemanwassuffering。

"Dr。Burton，"saidShock，withtheairofamanwhohasformedapurpose，"youarenottellingthetruth，sir。"

Thedoctorlookedupwithaflashofindignationinhiseyes。

"Youaremisrepresentingfactsintwoimportantparticulars。Youhavejustsaidthatyouhavedoneyourbest，andthatyouarebeyondallhelp。Thesimpletruthisyouhaveneitherdoneyourbest，norareyoubeyondhelp。"

"Beyondhelp！"criedthedoctor，startingupandbeginningtopacethefloor，castingasidehisusualgentlemanner。"Youuseplainspeech，sir，butyourevidentsincerityforbidsresentment。IfyouknewmyhistoryyouwouldagreewithmethatIstatethesimpletruthwhenIdeclarethatIambeyondhelp。Youseebeforeyou，sir，thesometimePresidentoftheFacultyofGuy’s，London，amanwithareputationsecondtononeintheMetropolis。Butneitherreputation，norfortune，norfriendscouldavailtosavemefromthiscurse。I

cametothiscountryindesperation。Itwasaprohibitioncountry。

CursedbethosewhoperpetratedthatfraudupontheBritishpublic！

IfLondonbebad，thiscountry，withitsisolation，itsmonotonyoflife，andthisdamnablepermitsystem，isathousandtimesworse。

GodpitythefoolwholeavesEnglandinthehopeofrecoveringhismanhoodandfreedomhere。IcametothisGod—forsaken，homelesscountrywithsomehopeofrecoveryinmyheart。Thathopehaslongsincevanished。Iamnowbeyondallhelp。"

"No，"saidShockinaquiet，firmvoice，"youhavetoldmenothingtoprovethatyouarebeyondhelp。"Infact，"hecontinuedalmostbrusquely，"nomanofsenseandhonestyhasarighttosaythat。

"Yes，"hecontinued，inanswertothedoctor’sastonishedlook，"salvation，asitiscalled，isamatterofcommonsenseandhonesty。"

"Ithoughtyouclergymenpreachedsalvationtobeamatteroffaith。"

"Faith，yes。Thatisthesamething。Commonsense，Icallit。Amanisafooltothinkheisbeyondhelpwhilehehaslife。Alittlecommonsenseandhonestyisallyouwant。Now，letusfindCarroll。

But，doctor，letmylastwordtoyoubethis——donoteversayorthinkwhatyouhavesaidtometo—day，Itsimplyisnottrue。AndI

repeat，themanwhocandothatsortofthing，"pointingtothechildlyingonthebed，"candoagreatdealmore。Goodthingsarewaitingyou。"

"Oh，LordGodAlmighty！"saidthedoctor，throwinguphishandsintheintensityofhisemotion。"Youalmostmakemethinkthereissomehope。"

"Don’tbeafool，doctor，"saidShockinamatteroffactvoice。

"Youaregoingtorecoveryourmanhoodandyourreputation。Iknowit。ButasIsaidbefore，rememberIexpectcommonsenseandhonesty。"

"Commonsenseandhonesty，"saidthedoctorasiftohimself。"Noreligion。"

"Thereyouare，"saidShock。"Ididnotsaythat。Ididsaycommonsenseandhonesty。Butnow，dogoandfindpoorCarroll。Hewillbeinagony。"

"Oh，alittleofitwon’thurthim。Heisratheranundevelopedspecimen，"saidthedoctor，resuminghisprofessionaltone。

InafewminuteshereturnedwithCarroll，whosefacewascontortedwithhiseffortstoseemcalm。

"Tellme，"hesaidtoShock。"Willtheladlive？"

"Theoperationisentirelysuccessful，thankstotheskillofDr。

Burtonthere。"

"Willhelive？"saidCarrolltothedoctorinahuskytone。

"Well，hehasachance——achancenowwhichbeforehehadnot;andifhedoes，youoweittoMr。Macgregorthere。"

"Andifhedoesn’t，Ishallowethattohim，"hissedCarrollthroughhisclenchedteeth。

ForthisShockhadnoreply。

"IshallgoforMrs。Carrollandthechildrennow，"hesaidquietly，andpassedoutoftheroom。

"Carroll，"saidthedoctorwithsterndeliberation，"Ihavealwaysknownyoutobeabully，butneverbeforethatyouwereabrute。

Thismansavedyourchild’slifeatveryconsiderabledangertohisown。Andasecondtime——ifthechildrecovershehassavedhislife，forhadtheoperationnotbeenperformedtodayyourchildwouldhavedied，andyouwouldhavebeenarrestedformanslaughter。"

"Doctor，"saidCarroll，turninguponhim，andstandingnervousandshaking，"itisthatmanorme。Thecountrywon’tholdusboth。"

"Then，Carroll，letmetellyou，youhadbettermoveout，forthatmanwon’tmovetillhewantsto。Why，blessmysoul，man，hecouldgrindyouupinhishands。Andasfornerve——well，Ihaveseensomeinmyprofessionalcareer，butneversuchashis。Myadvicetoyouis，donottriflewithhim。"

"Blankhissowl！I’llbeevenwidhim，"saidCarroll，pouringoutastreamofoaths。

"Dad。"TheweakvoiceseemedtopiercethroughCarroll’scurseslikeashaftoflightthroughadarkroom。

Carrolldroppedonhiskneesbythebedsideinarushoftears。

"Ah，Patsy，myPatsy！IsityourownvoiceI’mhearin’？"

"Dad，darlin’，yedidn’tmaneit，didye，dad？"

"What，Patsy？"

"Tohitme。"

"Ah，mayGodforgiveme！butit’smeselfwouldsoonerdiethanstrikeye。"

Thelittleladdrewadeepbreathofcontent。

"Andthebigman，"hesaid。"Heputouthishandoverme。Yedidn’thurthim，dad，didye？"

"No，no，Patsy，darlin’，"saidthebigIrishman，buryinghisfaceinthepillow。"Speaktoyourdadagainwidyourlovelyvoice。"

"Now，Carroll，"saidthedoctorinasternwhisper。"Thatisenough。

Notawordmore。Doyouwanttokillyourchild？"

Carrollatoncewithatremendouseffortgrewstill，strokingthewhitehandheheldinhis，andkissingthegoldencurlsthatstreamedacrossthepillow，whisperingoverandover，"Patsy，darlin’！"tillthedoctor，hardenedashewastosceneslikethis，wasforcedtostealoutfromtheroomandleavethemtogether。

XIV

THEOLDPROSPECTOR’SAWAKING

ForsixweekstheOldProspectorlayfrettinghislifeawayinhisshack，notsoillastobeindanger。Thepneumoniahadalmostdisappearedandtherheumatismhadsubsided，butyetsuchgravesymptomsremainedasmadethedoctorforbidhissettingforthuponhisannualquestoftheLostRiver。InthesedayshischiefcomfortwasShock，whoseoldhabitofsharinghisexperiencesinimaginationwiththosewhocouldnotsharetheminreality，relievedfortheOldProspectormanyamonotonoushour。

ButShock’sdays，andmostofhisnights，even，werespentuponthetrailroundingup"straysandmavericks，"asIkesaid，searchingoutthelonelybachelorshacks，andlonelierhomeswherewomendweltwhosehusbands’dayswerespentontherange，andwhosenearestneighbourmightbeeightortenmilesaway，bringingatouchoftheouterworld，andleavingagleamofthelightthathecarriedinhisownsunny，honestface。

AndsoShocksooncametoknowmoreofthefarbacksettlersthandideventheoldesttimer;and，whatwasbetter，hebegantoestablishamongthemsomesortofsociallife。ItwasShock，forinstance，thatdiscoveredoldMrs。Hamiltonandhertwosons，anddroveheraftermuchpersuasioneightmilesover"TheRise，"pastwhichshehadnotsetherfootfortheninelong，sadyearsthathaddraggedouttheirlonelylengthsinceherhusbandleftheralonewithhertwoboysofsevenandnine，tovisitMrs。Macnamara，thedelicatewifeoftherollickingIrishrancher，who，seldomoutofthesaddlehimself，hadneverbeenabletounderstandtheheart—

hungerthatonlybecamelessasherownliferanlow。Itwasherlittlefamilygrowingupabouther，atoncedraininghervitalitybut，thankGod，nourishinginherhearthopeandcourage，thatpreservedforherfaithandreason。ItwasagreatdayfortheMacnamaraswhentheirbigfienddroveovertheirnextneighbour，Mrs。Hamilton，tomakeherfirstcall。

AnotherresultofShock’sworkbecameapparentinthegradualdevelopmentofLoonLake，or"TheLake，"asitwasmostfrequentlynamed，intoacentreofsociallife。Inthefirstplaceaschoolhadbeenestablished，inwhichMarionhadbeeninstalledasteacher，andoncethechildrencametothevillageitwaseasierfortheparentstofindtheirwaythither。

Everyweek，too，TheKidandIkefoundoccasionstovisitTheLakeandcallforShock，whomadehishome，forthemostpart，withtheOldProspector。Everyweek，too，thedoctorwouldappeartopayavisittohispatients;but，indeed，insomewayorotherthedoctorwasbeingconstantlyemployedoncasesdiscoveredbyShock。TheMacnamara’sbabywiththeclub—foot，ScrubKettle’sgirlwiththespinaltrouble;LawrenceDelamere，thehandsomeyoungEnglishladupin"ThePass，"whoseleg，injuredinamineaccident，neverwouldhealtillthedoctorhadscrapedthebone——theseandmanyothersowedtheirsoundnesstoShock’sprospectingpowersandtothedoctor’sskill。Andsomanyamiletheydrovetogethertotheirmutualgood。For，whilethedoctorprosecutedwithdelightanddiligencehishealingart，allunconsciouslyhehimselfwasregainingsomethingofhisfreedomandmanhood。