As the Deacon had said, she was high spirited, and for an instant she was filled with indignation.  She shut her eyes, and her heart seemed to stop its beating.  She heard Quincy’s voice, “Look out for the curve, Miss Mason.”  She dropped the left rein and mechanically gave the right one a strong, sharp pull with both hands.  Quincy grasped the reins, but it was too late.

Huldy’s pull on the right rein had thrown the horse almost at right angles to the buggy.  The steep hill and sharp curve in the road did the rest.  The buggy stood for an instant on two wheels, then fell on its side with a crash, taking the horse off her feet at the same time.

Huldy pitched forward as the buggy was falling, striking her left arm upon the wheel, and then fell into the road.  Quincy gave a quick leap over the dasher, falling on the prostrate horse, and grasping her by the head, pressed it to the ground.  The mare lay motionless.  Quincy rushed to Miss Mason and lifted her to her feet, but found her a dead weight in his arms.  He looked in her face.  She had evidently fainted.  Her left arm hung by her side in a helpless sort of way; he touched it lightly between the elbow and shoulder.  It was broken.  Grasping her in his arms he ran to the back door and burst into the kitchen where Mrs. Mason was at work.

Quincy said in quick, excited tones, “There has been an accident, Mrs. Mason, and your daughter’s arm is broken; she has also fainted.  I will take her right to her room and put her on her bed.  You can bring her out of that.”  Suiting the action to the word, he took Huldy upstairs, saying, “I will go for the doctor at once.”

Then he dashed down the stairs and out of the front door; as he reached the team he found Hiram standing beside it, his eyes wide open with astonishment.

“Had a smash-up, Mr. Sawyer?” he asked.  “How did it happen?”

“All my carelessness,” said Quincy.  “Come, give me a lift on the buggy, quick.”

How it was done Quincy could never tell afterwards, but in a very short time the buggy was righted, the mare on her feet and the harness adjusted.  Hiram took off his cap and began dusting the mare, whose white coat showed the dust very plainly.

“Where does the nearest doctor live, Hiram?” asked Quincy.

“Second house up the road you just come down,” said Hiram.  “The folks say he don’t know much, anyway.”

“Well, you get him here as quick as possible,” said Quincy.  “I am going to Eastborough Centre to telegraph for a surgeon and a trained nurse.  Can you remember that?”

Quincy passed him a dollar bill.

Hiram winked and said, “I guess I can,” and darted off up the hill.

Quincy sprang into the team and the white mare dashed forward at full speed.  As he reached the Pettengill house he saw Ezekiel standing at the front gate.  With difficulty he pulled the mare up, for she was greatly excited.