Page:A Wild-Goose Chase - Balmer - 1915.djvu/232

218 Silently Brunton aided the surgeon in a swift search for other wounds.

"That's all!" Koehler cried at last. "I believe the bullet only grazed his skull. I don't think it pierced at all or fractured. Maybe it only stunned him. The cold stopped the blood."

Indeed as they spoke together the wounded man seemed to be sensible of their presence. He stirred a little and his lips parted. Koehler melted snow in his hand and poured the drops into Hedon's mouth.

"Move his arms and legs a little to warm him," the doctor directed. "Not too hard; we mustn't make the blood flow."

He reached within his own clothing and tore off a strip for a bandage. Hedon opened his eyes. He saw Koehler bending over him and recognised him.

"It's only a frostbite, doctor," he said clearly. "I tell you I'm all right. I can go on."

He closed his eyes again. None of the others spoke. The words were familiar to Geoff. He recalled a story Koehler had told of Hedon on