y,andforaminutewasstunned.Whenherecoveredconsciousness,hefoundsomeonepouringbrandydownhisneck.
“Isthehorsehurt?”heasked,notthinkingofhimself.
“Nohe’sallright.Howd’youfeel?”
Ayoungsurgeonwasinthefield,androdeup.“What’sthematter?Anyoneinjured?”
“No,”saidEdward,strugglingtohisfeet,somewhatannoyedattheexhibitionhethoughthewasmakingofhimself.“Onewouldthinknoneofyoufellowshadeverseenamancomedownbefore.I’veseenmostofyoucomeoffoftenenough.”
Hewalkeduptothehorse,andputhisfootinthestirrup.
“You’dbettergohome,Craddock,”saidthesurgeon.“Iexpectyou’reabitshakenup.”
“Gohomebedamned.Confound!”Ashetriedtomount,Edwardfeltapainatthetopofhischest.“IbelieveI’vebrokensomething.”
Thesurgeonwentupandhelpedhimoffwithhiscoat.HetwistedEdward’sarm.
“Doesthathurt?”
“Abit.”
“You’vebrokenyourcollar-bone,”saidthesurgeon,afteramoment’sexamination.
“IthoughtI’dsmashedsomething.Howlongwillittaketomend?”
“Onlythreeweeks.Youneedn’tbealarmed.”
“I’mnotalarmed,butIsupposeIshallhavetogiveuphuntingforatleastamonth.”
EdwardwasdriventoDr.Ramsay,whobandagedhimandsenthimbacktoCourtLeys.Berthawassurprisedtoseehiminadogcart.Edwardbynowhadrecoveredhisgoodtemper,andexplainedtheoccurrence,laughing.
“It’snothingtomakeafussabout.OnlyI’mbandagedupsothatIfeellikeamummy,andIdon’tknowhowI’mgoingtogetabath.That’swhatworriesme.”
NextdayArthurBrandertoncametoseehim.“You’vefoundyourmatchatlast,Craddock.”
“Me?Notmuch!Ishallbeallrightinamonth,andthenoutIgoagain.”
“Iwouldn’tridehimagain,ifIwereyou.It’snotworthit.Withthattrickofhisofswinginghisleg,you’llbreakyourneck.”
“Bah,”saidEdward,scornfully.“Thehorsehasn’tbeenbuiltthatIcan’tride.”
“You’reagoodweightnow,andyourbonesaren’tassuppleaswhenyouweretwenty.Thenextfallyouhavewillbeabadone.”
“Rot,m