"A jolly splash, was it! Were you one of the immersed ones, Dick?"
"Not I," returned Dick, throwing back his head. "As if we second-desk fellows couldn't manage a boat better than that! Leo was."
Leo opened his eyes as wide as Dick had previously done. "_Drowned_, Uncle Richard! Not one. We scrambled out as easy as fun. There's no fear of our getting drowned."
"No fear at all, as it seems to me," returned the doctor. "But there's danger of it, Leo."
Leo made no reply. Perhaps he scarcely defined the distinction of the words. Dr. Davenal remained silent for a minute, lost in thought; then he sat down, and held the two lads in front of him.
"Did either of you ever observe a white house, lying back on a hill, just as you pass the next station to this--Hildon?"
"I know it," cried out Richard. "It is old Low's."
"Old Low's, if you choose to call him so, but he is not as old as I am, Master Dick. Some people in that neighbourhood called him Squire Low. He is Lady Oswald's landlord. A few years ago, boys, I was sent for to his house; that very house upon the hill. Mr. Low's mother was living with him then, and I found she was taken ill. I went for several days in succession: sometimes I saw Mr. Low's sons, three nice lads, but daring as you two are, and about your present age. One afternoon,--listen, both of you,--I had no sooner got home from Mr. Low's, than I was surprised to see one of his men riding up here at a fierce rate. The railway was not opened then. I feared old Mrs. Low might be worse, and I hastened out to the man myself. He had come galloping all the way, and he asked me to gallop back as quickly"----
"Old Mrs. Low was dead!" cried quick Dick.
"No, sir, she was not dead. She was no worse than when I left her. Mr. Low's three sons had done just what you tell me you did yesterday. They went upon the river at Hildon in a rowing-boat, and the boat upset--tipped over, as you call it; and the poor boys had not found it so easy to scramble out as you, Leo, and your comrades did. One of them was out, the man said; he thought that the other two were not. So I mounted my own horse and hastened over."
"But what did they want with you, Uncle Richard? Were there no doctors near?"