all followed, leaving David and the father in sole possession of the place.

Then he turned to the bed and began a kindly explanation. He found the man more intelligent and much more tractable than the woman, but it was hard to make him believe that he must inevitably lose either his life or his foot, and that they had not an hour — not a half hour — to spare, but must decide at once. David’s manner, gentle, but firmly urgent, at last succeeded. The big man broke down and wept weakly, but yielded; only he stipulated that his wife must not be told.

“No, no! She and the children must be kept away; but I need help. Is there no one — no man whom we can get to come here quickly?”

“They is nobody — naw — I reckon not.”