With that, he sprang across the ditch, hurried through the garden, and entered the rectory.  Presently he reappeared, carrying something in his hand, which proved to be a key.  Going at once to the prostrate woman, who was lying upon the grass, he told the men to lift her up.  When this was done, he quickly slipped the key down the back of her neck.

“There, I guess that’ll stop the bleeding,” he panted.

Hardly were the words out of his mouth, when Miss Arabella leaped to her feet.

“A snake!  A snake!” she yelled.  “It’s gone down my neck!”

With much difficulty the men soothed her excitement, telling her that there was nothing the matter.  At last they induced her to enter the auto, and soon she was being borne rapidly to her home.

Rod remained for a few seconds staring after them, while an amused twinkle shone in his eyes.

“She thought it was a snake, ho, ho.  Won’t Captain Josh laugh when I tell him that?  I didn’t mean any harm, though.  I just wanted to do a good turn.  Guess that was something that a scout would do.”

About half an hour after this incident, Parson Dan arrived home, stabled his horse, and went into the rectory.  He found Mrs. Royal in her little sewing-room on the north side of the house, busily engaged upon some of the Ladies’ Aid work.  She smiled as her husband entered.

“I was afraid you would be late, Daniel,” she remarked.

“I drove hard,” was the reply, “for I never like to keep a wedding waiting.  I believe that I have ten minutes to spare, so I shall take a glance at the Marriage Service.  It is so seldom we have a wedding that I am a little rusty.”

“Won’t you have a cup of tea, Daniel?” his wife asked.  “It might freshen you up a bit.”

“No, dear, not now.  Just as soon as I look over the Service, I shall go into the church to have everything ready.”

He was gone but a few minutes when he returned, with an anxious expression upon his face.

“Have you seen the key of the church, Martha?” he asked.  “I cannot find it anywhere.”

“It must be in its usual place, Daniel.  It always hangs there, and no one ever thinks of touching it but yourself.”

“Well, it’s not there now, and I have hunted all through the study.”

Mrs. Royal at once arose, and began to assist her husband in his search for the missing key.  All their efforts were in vain, however, and before they were through the wedding party arrived.  This was most embarrassing, for the ones who had come to be married were very particular, and would resent any delay.  If they could not get into the church they were sure to be angry, for it would make them the laughing-stock of the entire parish.

“What shall we do!” Mrs. Royal gasped, as she glanced out of the window at the teams drawn up before the church.  “Can’t you force the door, Daniel?”

“No.  It would take a blacksmith to do that.  And, besides, I wouldn’t allow it for any consideration.  It would be terrible.”