On seeing the carriage approach he had taken the clay pipe from his mouth and sauntered forward.  On seeing the strange burden that his daughter supported in her arms, he came down to the side of the carriage, exclaiming: 

“Who have you got there, Claudia?”

“Oh, papa, it is Ishmael Worth!  He has killed himself, I fear, in saving me!  My horses ran away, ran directly towards the steeps above the river, and would have plunged over if he had not started forward and turned their heads in time; but the horses, as they turned, knocked him down and ran over him!” cried Claudia, in almost breathless vehemence.

“What was Sam doing all this time?” inquired the judge, as he stood contemplating the insensible boy.

“Oh, papa, he sprang from the carriage as soon as the horses became unmanageable and ran away!  But don’t stop here asking useless questions!  Lift him out and take him into the house!  Gently, papa! gently,” said Claudia, as Judge Merlin slipped his long arms under the youth’s body and lifted him from the carriage.

“Now, then, what do you expect me to do with him?” inquired Judge Merlin, looking around as if for a convenient place to lay him on the grass.

“Oh, papa, take him right into the spare bedroom on the lower floor! and lay him on the bed.  I have sent for a doctor to attend him here,” answered Claudia, as she sprang from the carriage and led the way into the very room she had indicated.

“He is rather badly hurt,” said the judge, as he laid Ishmael upon the bed and arranged his broken limbs as easily as he could.

“‘Rather badly!’ he is crushed nearly to death!  I told you the whole carriage passed over him!” cried Claudia, with a hysterical sob, as she bent over the boy.

“Worse than I thought,” continued the judge, as he proceeded to unbutton Ishmael’s coat and loosen his clothes.  “Did you say you sent for a doctor?”

“Yes! as soon as it happened!  He ought to be here in an hour from this!” replied Claudia, wringing her hands.

“His clothes must be cut away from him; it might do his fractured limbs irreparable injury to try to draw off his coat and trousers in the usual manner.  Leave him to me, Claudia, and go and tell old Katie to come here and bring a pair of sharp shears with her,” ordered the judge.

Claudia stooped down quickly, gave one wistful, longing, compassionate gaze at the still, cold white face of the sufferer, and then hurried out to obey her father’s directions.  She sent old Katie in, and then threw off her hat and mantle and sat down on the step of the door to watch for the doctor’s approach, and also to be at hand to hear any tidings that might come from the room of the wounded boy.

More than an hour Claudia remained on the watch without seeing anyone.  Then, when suspense grew intolerable, she impulsively sprang up and silently hastened to the door of the sick-room and softly rapped.