“Daisy,” said he, “my poor little Daisy—­we cannot get to Melbourne—­we must stop and wait a little somewhere.  Is there any house you like better than another?  I had best turn back to the village.”

“No, don’t,—­stop!” cried Daisy, “don’t go back, Capt.  Drummond; there is a place nearer.  Turn up that road—­right round there.  It is very near.”

The Captain obeyed, but pulled in the reins presently as he heard a nearer growl of the coming thunder.  “Daisy, where is it?  I don’t see anything.”

“There it is, Capt.  Drummond—­that little house.”

“That?” said the Captain; but there was no more time now for retreat or question.  He sprang out, threw the reins two or three times over the gate-post; then executed the very difficult operation of taking Daisy out of the wagon.  He could not do it without hurting her; she fainted on his shoulder; and it was in this state, white and senseless, that he carried her into Mrs. Benoit’s cottage.  The old woman had seen them and met him at the door.  Seeing the state of the case, she immediately and with great quickness spread a clean covering over a comfortable chintz couch which stood under the window, and Daisy was laid there from her friend’s arms.  Juanita applied water and salts too, deftly; and then asked the Captain, “What is it, sir?”

“There’s a foot hurt here,” said the Captain, giving more attention to the hurt than he had had chance to do before.  “Pray heaven it is not broken!  I am afraid it is,—­the ankle—­or dislocated.”

“Then Heaven knows why it is broken,” said the old woman quietly.  “The gentleman will go for a doctor, sir?”

“Yes, that must be the first thing,” said Capt.  Drummond gravely.  “Where shall I find him?”

“Dr. Sandford—­the gentleman, knows the road to Mr. St. Leonard’s?”

“Yes—­the Craigs—­I know.”

“Dr. Sandford is half way there—­where the gentleman remembers a great brown house in the middle of the cedar trees.”

The Captain beat his brain to remember, thought he did, and was starting away, but turned back to see Daisy’s eyes open first; fearing lest she might be alarmed if he were not by her when she came to herself.  There was a bright flash and near peal of thunder at the moment.  Juanita looked up.

“The gentleman will not fear the storm?  There is work here”—­touching the foot.

The Captain remembered that Daisy herself had directed him to the house, and dashed away again.  The clouds were growing blacker every moment.  In the darkening light Juanita bent over Daisy and saw her eyes open.

“Does my little lady know Juanita?”

Daisy sighed, looked round the room, and then seemed to recollect herself.

“O I am here!” she said.  “Where is Capt.  Drummond?”

“The gentleman is gone for the doctor, to see to the hurt foot.  How is it now, dear?”

“It hurts me a good deal.”