Now, however, Cecil, with his heart full of
the Brownlows, could not say more of them than Fordham was willing to
hear; nay, he even found an amused listener to some of his good
stories of courageous pranks.
Fordham was not yet up the next morning when there was a knock at his
door, and the doctor came in, answering his eager question with—-
"Yes, he has got through this night, but another up in that place
would be fatal. We must get them down to Leukerbad."
"Over that long precipitous path?"
"It is the only chance. I came down to look up bearers, and rig up a
couple of hammocks, as well as to see how you are getting on."
"Oh! I'm very well," said Lord Fordham, in a tone that meant it,
sitting up in bed. "We might ride on to Leukerbad with Reeves, and
get rooms ready."
"The best thing you could do," said Dr. Medlicott, joyfully. "When
we are there we can consider what can be done next; and if you wish
to go on, I could look up some one there in whose charge to leave
them till they could get advice from home; but it is touch and go
with that little fellow."
"I'm in no particular hurry," said Lord Fordham, answering the
doctor's tone rather than his words. "I would not do anything hasty
or that might add to their distress.
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