Often have I travelled this bridle-path,
without fear as in truth without danger, when sight was a sense of as
little use as that of smelling."
"I was about to say, falling into thine own hands, which would be a
tumble of little less jeopardy than even that of the wicked spirits."
The medical man affected to laugh at his companion's joke; but,
remembering the dignity suited to one of his calling, he immediately
resumed the discourse with gravity--
"These may be matters of levity, with those who know little of the
hardships that are endured in the practice of the settlements. Here have I
been on yonder mountain, guided by the instinct of my horse--"
"Ha! hath there been a call at the dwelling of my brother Ring?" demanded
the pedestrian, observing, by the direction of the other's eye, the road
he had been travelling.
"Truly, there hath; and at the unseasonable hour that is wont, in a very
unreasonable proportion of the cases of my practice."
"And Reuben numbereth another boy to the four that he could count
yesterday?"
The medical man held up three of his fingers, in a significant manner, as
he nodded assent.
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