\"Arrah，yemaysayit。Buttheydobetellin’methathisriverencetherebeyant，hestoodinundertheblow。Godblesshissowl！It’sahairoheis——ahairo！\"
SherantowardShockasiftoembracehim，butShock，whohadcometoknowherways，avoidedher，dodgingbehindthedoctor。
\"Notatall，\"hesaid。\"Anymanwouldhavedonethesame。\"
\"Now，Godpardonyourriverenceforthelieye’vetold。\"
\"ButhowdidYOUgetintotherow？\"askedthedoctor，turningtoShock。
\"Andyemayask，\"interruptedMrs。Carroll。\"It’sallavthatsquirmin’littlewormofaFrenchman。Maythedivilflyawaywidhim！I’mnotsayin’butCarrollthereisquickwithhistongue，andbetimeswithhishands，too——thehighspiritthathehas！butsure，it’satinderhearthecarriesinsideavhimifthey’dlavehimbe。\"
Meantimethedoctorhadbeenproceedingwithhisexamination。
\"Hehaslainaweeklikethis，eh？\"
\"Yes，aweek，withneveramovetillhim，andniveralookoutavhislovelyeyes。\"
\"Buthetakeshisnourishment，doeshe？\"
\"Yes，onceinawhileacupofmilkwithaweedrapavwhiskyintillit，doctor。\"
Thedoctornodded。
\"Won’thurthim。Nottoomuch，mind。Ateaspoonfulinalargecup。\"
Thedoctorstoodforsomemomentsafterhehadfinishedhisexamination，lookingdownuponthelittlewhiteface，sowasted，sobeautiful。Thenheshookhasheadsorrowfully。
\"Ah，doctor，darlin’！\"burstoutMrs。Carroll。\"Don’tsaythewurrd！
Don’tsaythewurrd！\"
AtthisCarrollliftedhisheadandenquiredbriefly，\"Willhegetbetter，doctor？\"
\"Hehasachance。Hehasaslightchance。\"
AndwithalookatShockhelefttheroom。AfterspeakingafewwordsofcomfortandhopetothemotherShockfollowedthedoctorfromthehouse。
\"Itisacasefortrephining，Ifear，\"saidthedoctor。\"Aclearcase。Itistheonlychancehehas，anditoughttobedoneatonce。\"
\"Youmeanto—day？\"askedShock。
\"Yes，to—day。But——\"Thedoctorhesitated。\"Iamnotready。\"
\"Icouldgetyourinstrumentsandanythingelseyoumightorder，\"
saidShockeagerly。
\"No，itisnotthat，\"saidthedoctor。\"Thetruthis，Ihavenotthenerve。Niceconfessiontomake，isn’tit？Lookatthathand。\"
Heheldouthishandashespoke，andShocksawthatnotonlythehand，butthewholearm，indeedthewholegauntframeofthedoctor，wasallinatremble。Shock’sexperienceinthecitywardsmadehimrealisesomethingoftheshameandhumiliationofthemomenttothedoctor。Hehastenedtoturnhisattentioninahappierdirection。
\"Youhaveperformedthisoperationbefore？\"
\"Yes，frequentlyintheoldcountry，onceortwicehere。Ihaveseensomepractice，sir，\"saidthedoctor，straighteninghimselfup。\"Butthereitis，\"holdingoutagainhisshakinghand。
\"Well，\"saidShock，\"wemustwaittill——tilleverythingisready。\"
\"Yes，\"saidthedoctor。\"NotbeforethreedayswouldIdaretotouchaknife。Inthreedays，sir，Ishallreturn，bringingalltheappliancesnecessary，andintheintervalthetimewillnotbeentirelylost。Weshalltakeeverymeanstotonetheboyup。Bytheway，Isupposethereissomeoneinthevillagewithsufficientnervetorenderassistance？\"
\"Idonotknow。ThereisonlyonemaninthiscountrywhomIcanthinkofasbeingreliableforanaffairofthiskind。Doyouhappentoknowofthecowboy，Ike？\"
\"Theveryman，\"saidthedoctor。\"HelivesontheStantonranchbetweenthisandthefort。Wecanseehimonourway。\"
BeforethedoctorleftforhomehehadcalledtopreparetheCarrollsfortheoperation。AtfirstTimwouldnothearofit。Hefiercelydeclaredthathewouldkillanymanthatdaredputaknifeonhislad。Hiswifewasequallydeterminedthattheoperationshouldnottakeplace。
\"Verywell，\"saidthedoctor，\"thenyourboywilldie，and，Carroll，Ishallhaveyouarrestedformanslaughterforthwith。\"
ThisaspectofthecasemadelittleimpressionuponCarroll。
\"Iftheladdies，\"hesaidhoarsely，\"divilacarewhathappenstome。\"
ButMrs。Carrollbecameanxiouslydesirous。thattheoperationshouldbeperformed。
\"AndsurethegoodGodwouldn’tbeaftertakin’himfromus，fordidn’thisriverencethereputupaprayerthatwouldmelttheheartoftheangels，andIdidpromiseGodmeselfaralefast，withniveraneggnorabitofafishtomyteeth，ifheshouldlavehimwidus。AndCarroll，darlin’，ye’llnotbeafterbreakin’ye’rewife’sheart，normakin’herawidow？Justyecomeon，doctor，andniverawordhe’llsaytillye。\"
Andsoitcame，inthreedaysthatthedoctorreturned，clean，steady，andfitforhiswork，withIke，Shock，andTheKidonhandashisassistants。
\"IaskedthedoctorifImightcomealong，\"saidthelatter，explaininghispresence，\"andthoughhedidnotencourageme，hereI
am。\"
\"Wewillmakehimnurseoroutsideguard，\"saidShock。\"Wewillgivehimfullchargeofthefamily。\"
\"Yes，\"repliedthedoctor，inhisgentle，professionalvoice，\"thefamily。Letthemberemovedtosomedistance。Thehousemustbekeptentirelyquiet，entirelyquiet。Aninterruptionmightbeserious。
Mr。andMrs。Carrollandthechildrenhadbetterbetakenawaytosomeremotedistance，sothatwemayhaveinthehouseperfectpeace——perfectpeace。\"
ButinCarrolltheymetanunexpecteddifficulty。
\"NotafutofmewillIlave，\"heannounced，andfromthispositionwasimmovable。
\"Letussaynomoreatpresent，\"saidthedoctorquietlytohisassistants。\"Therearevariousmethodsofremovinganobstruction。I
havefoundvariousmethods。\"
AndsoTheKid，withMrs。Carroll，Tim，Nora，Eileen，Jimmie，andlittleMichael，setofforJumpingRockatthelake。Aftertheprocessionhadformed，however，anotherdifficultyarose。Michaelrefusedpointblanktogo，andonbeingurgedthrewhimselfdownuponthegroundandkickedandyelledvociferously。
\"Indade，there’snouseoftryin’tomakehimdowhathedon’twant，\"saidhismother，withaconvictionbornoflongexperienceofMichael’stempersandways。
Theprocessionhalted，TheKidlookinghelplessandfoolish。Invainheofferedhiswatch，hispistolwiththechargedrawn。Allhispossessionsavailednotatall。
Inhisdesperationhewasonthepointofproceedingtoextrememeasureswhenavoice，singularlysweetandmusical，soundedbehindhim。
\"PerhapsIcanhelp，\"itsaid。
TheKidswunground，hatinhand。ItwasMarion，theOldProspector’sdaughter。
\"Ishallbeprofoundlythankful。Andforthatmatterdoubtlesshewill，too，forIhadcometotheconclusionthatthesituationdemandedachangeoftactics。\"
ThegirlsatdownbesideMichael，andliftinghimtoherkneebegantobeguilehimfromhispresentmiserywithpromisesofsongs，andsnatchesoftales，whosepowersofenchantmenthadevidentlybeenprovedinsimilarcircumstances，tillfinallyhisinterestwasdiverted，hiscuriosityexcited，andatlengthMichaelwaspersuadedtojointhecompanywithsmilingexpectationofgoodthingstocome。
\"Iwishyouwouldconfidetomethesecretofyourpower，Miss——\"
saidTheKid，withamostcourteousbow。
\"IamMarionMowbray，\"shesaidsimply。
\"MissMowbray，\"continuedTheKid，\"Iknowyourfatherverywell，and\"——lookingintothegirl’seyes，soverypiercingandsoveryblack——\"Ishouldliketoknowhisdaughter，too。\"
ButMariondevotedherselfchieflytoMichael，givingsuchattentionasshecouldtotheolderandmoreactiveandmoreventurousEileenandJimmie，andTheKidfoundhisdutiestoMrs。Carroll，Tim，andNorasoengrossingthathehadlittletimetobestowanyfurtherattentionuponthegirl。
WhileMarionwithtalesandsongsheldtheyoungerportioninanenthralledcircleaboutherupontheJumpingRock，TheKiduponthelakeshorebelowwasusinghismoststrenuousendeavourstomakethehourpasshappilyforMrs。Carroll，Tim，andNora。
Meantime，inthebackroomoftheStopping—PlaceDr。Burtonwasmakinghispreparationsforaverycriticaloperation。AllhismovementsweremarkedbyaswiftdexterityandanattentiontodetailthatgaveShocktheimpressionthatherewasamannotonlyamasterofhisart，but，forthetimebeingatleast，masterofhimself。Helaidoutandthoroughlydisinfectedhisinstruments，preparedhislint，bandages，sponges，andexplainedclearlytoeachofhistwoassistantstheparthewastotake。Shock，whohadhadsomeslightexperienceinthesurgicaloperationsattendantuponanactivefootballcareer，wastobetheassistantinchief，beingexpectedtotakechargeoftheinstruments，andtotakepart，ifnecessary，intheactualoperation。Ikewasinstructedtobeinreadinesswithabasin，sponge，andanythingelsethatmightbedemanded。
\"Weshallnotgiveyoumuchtodo，\"saidthedoctor，\"butwhatyouhavetodomustbedonepromptlyandwell。Now，then，\"hecontinued，liftinghisscissorswithaflourishwhichdidnotfailtoimpressCarroll，whowasseatednearby，\"weshallproceed。\"
\"Willithurt，doctor？\"groanedCarroll，gazingupontherowofinstrumentswithfascinatedeyes。
\"Beforewearefinisheditisquitepossiblethepatientmaybeconsciousofnervousdisturbance，accompaniedbysensationsmoreorlesspainful。\"
\"Willithurt，blankyou！\"repliedCarroll，whosehoarsevoiceshowedtheintensityofhisrepressedemotion。
\"AsIwassaying，\"saidthedoctorinhiscalm，eventone，andexamininghisinstrumentsonebyonewithaffectionatecare，\"thereiseverypossibilitythatthenervecentresmaybe——\"
\"Oh，\"groanedCarroll，stillfascinatedbytheinstrumentsthatthedoctorwashandlingwithsuchlovingtouches，\"willsomeoneshutupthisblank，blatherin’fool？He’ddriveamancrazy，sohewud！\"
\"Mr。Carroll，wemustbecalm。Wemustbeentirelycalm，\"observedthedoctor。\"Now，\"continuinghismonologue，\"weshallremovethehairfromthefieldofoperation。Cleanlinessinanoperationofthiskindisofprimeimportance。Recentscientificinvestigationsshowthatthechiefdangerinoperationsisfromsepticpoisoning。
Yes，everyprecautionmustbetaken。Thenweshallbathewiththisweaksolutionofcarbolic——threepercentwillbequitesufficient，quitesufficient——theinjuredpartsandthesurroundingarea，andthenweshallexaminetheextentofthewound。Iftheduramaterbepenetrated，andthearachnoidcavitybeopened，thentherewillbeinallprobabilityaveryconsiderableextravasationofblood，andbythistime，doubtless，seriousinflammationofallthesurroundingtissues。Theaperturebeingverysmallandthedepressionsomewhatextensive，itwillbenecessarytoremove——tosawout，inshort——aportionoftheskull，\"liftingupafierce—lookinginstrument。
Carrollgroaned。
\"Letmeout！\"hewhisperedhoarsely，risingandfeelinghiswaywithoutstretchedhandtothedoor。\"Ican’tstandthisbloodydivil！\"
Ikeopenedthedoor，whileShocksprangtosupportthegropingman。
\"Lavemebe！\"hesaidfiercely，withacurse，andpushingShockbackhestumbledout。
\"Ah，\"saidthedoctor，withevidentsatisfaction，\"therearevariousmethodsofremovingobstructions，asIhavesaid。Weshallnownolongerdelay。\"Andheproceededtoclipawaythegoldencurlsfromaboutthewound。\"These，\"hesaid，holdingthemupinhisfingersandlookingatthemadmiringly，\"wehadbetterpreserve。Thesebeautifullocksmaybepricelesstothemother，pricelessindeed。
Poor，bonnieladdie！Nowweshallprepare，weshallasepticallyprepare，thewholefieldofoperation。Aspongethat’sit。Thatwilldo。Now，letusexaminetheextentoftheinjury，\"feelingwithdextrousfingersabouttheedgeoftheslightwound，andoverallthedepressedsurface。
\"Ah！asIfeared。Theinternaltableiswidelycomminuted，andthereispossiblyinjurytotheduramater。Wemustexciseasmallportionofthebone。Thescalpel，please。\"Then，afterlayingbackwithafewswift，dexterousmovementsthescalpfromaboutthewoundedparts:\"Thesaw。Yes，thesaw。Theremovalofasection，\"hecontinued，inhisgentlemonotone，beginningtosaw，\"willallowexaminationoftheinternaltable。Asponge，please。Thankyou。Andiftheduramater——\"HerethestillnessoftheroomwasbrokenbyasoundfromIke。Thedoctorglancedathim。
\"Thisisaverysimplepartoftheoperation，\"heexplained，\"averysimplepart，indeed，andattendedwithabsolutelynopain。Asponge，please。Thankyou。Nowtheforceps。Yes。\"
Hesnippedoffasectionofthebone。Ikewinced\"Ah，asIfeared。
Thereisconsiderablecomminutionandextravasation。Yes，andowingtothelongdelay，anddoubtlesstothewetapplicationswhichtheuninitiatedinvariablyapply，pus。Now，thecarbolicsolution，\"toIke，whowasstandingwithwhitefaceandsetteeth。
\"Youaredoingremarkablywell，\"saidthedoctorencouraginglytohim，\"remarkablywell。Toanovicethisattimespresentsashockingaspect。Nowweshallattackthisdepression。Theelevator，please。
No，theelevator，Mr。Macgregor。Thereitlies。Yes。Nowgently，gently。Justholdthatinposition，\"offeringShocktheendoftheinstrumentwhichhewasusingasalevertoraisethedepressedportionoftheskull。\"Theotherscalpel，please。Now，aslightpressure。Gently，gently。Wemustbeextremelycarefuloftheedges。
No，thatwillnotdo。Thenwemusthaverecoursetothetrephine。\"
Heliftedtheinstrumentashespoke，andgazedatitwitheverymarkofaffection。
\"Thisisoneofthemostbeautifulofalltheinstrumentsofmodernsurgery。Alovelyinstrument，alovelyinstrument，indeed。Letussecureourfirmsurface。Thatseemssatisfactory，\"beginningtobore。
ThiswastoomuchforIke。Hehastilysetdownthebasinandspongeonachair，thenstraightenedupinavainefforttoregainmasteryofhimself。
\"Ah，\"saidthedoctor。\"PoorIke！Thespiritiswilling，butthesympatheticnerveisevidentlyseriouslydisturbed，therebyaffectingthevasomotor，andwilllikelyproducecompletesyncope。
Layhimdownonhisbackimmediately。\"
\"No，\"saidIke，\"Iaintnogood。I’mgoingout。\"
\"Now，\"saidthedoctorcalmly，whenShockandhehadbeenleftalone，\"Ihopetherewillbenomoreinterruption。Wemustproceedwiththetrephining。Ah，beautiful，beautiful！\"hisquickmoving，deftfingerskeepingpacewithhismonologue。
\"Therenow，\"afterafewminutes’workwiththetrephine，\"thedepressionislifted。Weshallsoonbefinished。\"
Withsupple，firmfingershesewedthescalp，dressedthewound，andwasdone。
\"ThankGod！\"saidShock，withalongbreath。\"Willhelive？\"
\"Itisaquestionnowofstrengthandvitality。Iftheinflammationisnottoowidelyextendedthechildmayrecover。Younglifeisverytenacious。\"
Thedoctorwashedhishands，wipedhisinstruments，putthemcarefullyawayintheircase，andsatdown。
\"Doctor，\"saidShock，\"thatisagreatwork。Eventoalaymanthatoperationseemswonderful。\"
Underthestimulusofhisprofessionalworkthedoctor’sface，whichbuttwodaysbeforehadbeensoftandflabby，seemedtohavetakenonafirmer，harderappearance，andhiswholemanner，whichhadbeenshufflingandslovenly，hadbecomealertandself—reliant。
\"Amanwhocandothat，doctor，candogreatthings。\"
Ashadowfellonhisface。Thelookofkeenintelligencebecameclouded。Hisveryframelostitserectpoise，andseemedtofalltogether。Hisprofessionalairofjauntycheerfulnessforsookhim。
Hehuddledhimselfdownintohischair，puthisfaceinhishands，andshuddered。
\"Mydearsir，\"hesaid，liftinguphisface，\"itisquiteuseless，quitehopeless。\"
\"No，\"saidShockeagerly，\"donotsaythat。SurelytheAlmightyGod—
—\"
Thedoctorputuphishand。
\"Iknowallyouwouldsay。HowoftenhaveIheardit！ThefaultisnotwiththeAlmighty，butwithmyself。Iamstillhonestwithmyself，andyet——\"Herehepausedforsomemoments。\"Ihavetried——
andIhavefailed。Iamawreck。Ihaveprayed——prayedwithtearsandgroans。Ihavedonemybest。ButIambeyondhelp。\"
ForafullminuteShockstood，gazingsadlyatthenoblehead，thefacesomarred，thehuddlingform。Heknewsomethingoftheagonyofremorse，humiliation，fear，anddespairthatthemanwassuffering。
\"Dr。Burton，\"saidShock，withtheairofamanwhohasformedapurpose，\"youarenottellingthetruth，sir。\"
Thedoctorlookedupwithaflashofindignationinhiseyes。
\"Youaremisrepresentingfactsintwoimportantparticulars。Youhavejustsaidthatyouhavedoneyourbest，andthatyouarebeyondallhelp。Thesimpletruthisyouhaveneitherdoneyourbest，norareyoubeyondhelp。\"
\"Beyondhelp！\"criedthedoctor，startingupandbeginningtopacethefloor，castingasidehisusualgentlemanner。\"Youuseplainspeech，sir，butyourevidentsincerityforbidsresentment。IfyouknewmyhistoryyouwouldagreewithmethatIstatethesimpletruthwhenIdeclarethatIambeyondhelp。Youseebeforeyou，sir，thesometimePresidentoftheFacultyofGuy’s，London，amanwithareputationsecondtononeintheMetropolis。Butneitherreputation，norfortune，norfriendscouldavailtosavemefromthiscurse。I
cametothiscountryindesperation。Itwasaprohibitioncountry。
CursedbethosewhoperpetratedthatfraudupontheBritishpublic！
IfLondonbebad，thiscountry，withitsisolation，itsmonotonyoflife，andthisdamnablepermitsystem，isathousandtimesworse。
GodpitythefoolwholeavesEnglandinthehopeofrecoveringhismanhoodandfreedomhere。IcametothisGod—forsaken，homelesscountrywithsomehopeofrecoveryinmyheart。Thathopehaslongsincevanished。Iamnowbeyondallhelp。\"
\"No，\"saidShockinaquiet，firmvoice，\"youhavetoldmenothingtoprovethatyouarebeyondhelp。\"Infact，\"hecontinuedalmostbrusquely，\"nomanofsenseandhonestyhasarighttosaythat。
\"Yes，\"hecontinued，inanswertothedoctor’sastonishedlook，\"salvation，asitiscalled，isamatterofcommonsenseandhonesty。\"
\"Ithoughtyouclergymenpreachedsalvationtobeamatteroffaith。\"
\"Faith，yes。Thatisthesamething。Commonsense，Icallit。Amanisafooltothinkheisbeyondhelpwhilehehaslife。Alittlecommonsenseandhonestyisallyouwant。Now，letusfindCarroll。
But，doctor，letmylastwordtoyoubethis——donoteversayorthinkwhatyouhavesaidtometo—day，Itsimplyisnottrue。AndI
repeat，themanwhocandothatsortofthing，\"pointingtothechildlyingonthebed，\"candoagreatdealmore。Goodthingsarewaitingyou。\"
\"Oh，LordGodAlmighty！\"saidthedoctor，throwinguphishandsintheintensityofhisemotion。\"Youalmostmakemethinkthereissomehope。\"
\"Don’tbeafool，doctor，\"saidShockinamatteroffactvoice。
\"Youaregoingtorecoveryourmanhoodandyourreputation。Iknowit。ButasIsaidbefore，rememberIexpectcommonsenseandhonesty。\"
\"Commonsenseandhonesty，\"saidthedoctorasiftohimself。\"Noreligion。\"
\"Thereyouare，\"saidShock。\"Ididnotsaythat。Ididsaycommonsenseandhonesty。Butnow，dogoandfindpoorCarroll。Hewillbeinagony。\"
\"Oh，alittleofitwon’thurthim。Heisratheranundevelopedspecimen，\"saidthedoctor，resuminghisprofessionaltone。
InafewminuteshereturnedwithCarroll，whosefacewascontortedwithhiseffortstoseemcalm。
\"Tellme，\"hesaidtoShock。\"Willtheladlive？\"
\"Theoperationisentirelysuccessful，thankstotheskillofDr。
Burtonthere。\"
\"Willhelive？\"saidCarrolltothedoctorinahuskytone。
\"Well，hehasachance——achancenowwhichbeforehehadnot;andifhedoes，youoweittoMr。Macgregorthere。\"
\"Andifhedoesn’t，Ishallowethattohim，\"hissedCarrollthroughhisclenchedteeth。
ForthisShockhadnoreply。
\"IshallgoforMrs。Carrollandthechildrennow，\"hesaidquietly，andpassedoutoftheroom。
\"Carroll，\"saidthedoctorwithsterndeliberation，\"Ihavealwaysknownyoutobeabully，butneverbeforethatyouwereabrute。
Thismansavedyourchild’slifeatveryconsiderabledangertohisown。Andasecondtime——ifthechildrecovershehassavedhislife，forhadtheoperationnotbeenperformedtodayyourchildwouldhavedied，andyouwouldhavebeenarrestedformanslaughter。\"
\"Doctor，\"saidCarroll，turninguponhim，andstandingnervousandshaking，\"itisthatmanorme。Thecountrywon’tholdusboth。\"
\"Then，Carroll，letmetellyou，youhadbettermoveout，forthatmanwon’tmovetillhewantsto。Why，blessmysoul，man，hecouldgrindyouupinhishands。Andasfornerve——well，Ihaveseensomeinmyprofessionalcareer，butneversuchashis。Myadvicetoyouis，donottriflewithhim。\"
\"Blankhissowl！I’llbeevenwidhim，\"saidCarroll，pouringoutastreamofoaths。
\"Dad。\"TheweakvoiceseemedtopiercethroughCarroll’scurseslikeashaftoflightthroughadarkroom。
Carrolldroppedonhiskneesbythebedsideinarushoftears。
\"Ah，Patsy，myPatsy！IsityourownvoiceI’mhearin’？\"
\"Dad，darlin’，yedidn’tmaneit，didye，dad？\"
\"What，Patsy？\"
\"Tohitme。\"
\"Ah，mayGodforgiveme！butit’smeselfwouldsoonerdiethanstrikeye。\"
Thelittleladdrewadeepbreathofcontent。
\"Andthebigman，\"hesaid。\"Heputouthishandoverme。Yedidn’thurthim，dad，didye？\"
\"No，no，Patsy，darlin’，\"saidthebigIrishman，buryinghisfaceinthepillow。\"Speaktoyourdadagainwidyourlovelyvoice。\"
\"Now，Carroll，\"saidthedoctorinasternwhisper。\"Thatisenough。
Notawordmore。Doyouwanttokillyourchild？\"
Carrollatoncewithatremendouseffortgrewstill，strokingthewhitehandheheldinhis，andkissingthegoldencurlsthatstreamedacrossthepillow，whisperingoverandover，\"Patsy，darlin’！\"tillthedoctor，hardenedashewastosceneslikethis，wasforcedtostealoutfromtheroomandleavethemtogether。
XIV
THEOLDPROSPECTOR’SAWAKING
ForsixweekstheOldProspectorlayfrettinghislifeawayinhisshack，notsoillastobeindanger。Thepneumoniahadalmostdisappearedandtherheumatismhadsubsided，butyetsuchgravesymptomsremainedasmadethedoctorforbidhissettingforthuponhisannualquestoftheLostRiver。InthesedayshischiefcomfortwasShock，whoseoldhabitofsharinghisexperiencesinimaginationwiththosewhocouldnotsharetheminreality，relievedfortheOldProspectormanyamonotonoushour。
ButShock’sdays，andmostofhisnights，even，werespentuponthetrailroundingup\"straysandmavericks，\"asIkesaid，searchingoutthelonelybachelorshacks，andlonelierhomeswherewomendweltwhosehusbands’dayswerespentontherange，andwhosenearestneighbourmightbeeightortenmilesaway，bringingatouchoftheouterworld，andleavingagleamofthelightthathecarriedinhisownsunny，honestface。
AndsoShocksooncametoknowmoreofthefarbacksettlersthandideventheoldesttimer;and，whatwasbetter，hebegantoestablishamongthemsomesortofsociallife。ItwasShock，forinstance，thatdiscoveredoldMrs。Hamiltonandhertwosons，anddroveheraftermuchpersuasioneightmilesover\"TheRise，\"pastwhichshehadnotsetherfootfortheninelong，sadyearsthathaddraggedouttheirlonelylengthsinceherhusbandleftheralonewithhertwoboysofsevenandnine，tovisitMrs。Macnamara，thedelicatewifeoftherollickingIrishrancher，who，seldomoutofthesaddlehimself，hadneverbeenabletounderstandtheheart—
hungerthatonlybecamelessasherownliferanlow。Itwasherlittlefamilygrowingupabouther，atoncedraininghervitalitybut，thankGod，nourishinginherhearthopeandcourage，thatpreservedforherfaithandreason。ItwasagreatdayfortheMacnamaraswhentheirbigfienddroveovertheirnextneighbour，Mrs。Hamilton，tomakeherfirstcall。
AnotherresultofShock’sworkbecameapparentinthegradualdevelopmentofLoonLake，or\"TheLake，\"asitwasmostfrequentlynamed，intoacentreofsociallife。Inthefirstplaceaschoolhadbeenestablished，inwhichMarionhadbeeninstalledasteacher，andoncethechildrencametothevillageitwaseasierfortheparentstofindtheirwaythither。
Everyweek，too，TheKidandIkefoundoccasionstovisitTheLakeandcallforShock，whomadehishome，forthemostpart，withtheOldProspector。Everyweek，too，thedoctorwouldappeartopayavisittohispatients;but，indeed，insomewayorotherthedoctorwasbeingconstantlyemployedoncasesdiscoveredbyShock。TheMacnamara’sbabywiththeclub—foot，ScrubKettle’sgirlwiththespinaltrouble;LawrenceDelamere，thehandsomeyoungEnglishladupin\"ThePass，\"whoseleg，injuredinamineaccident，neverwouldhealtillthedoctorhadscrapedthebone——theseandmanyothersowedtheirsoundnesstoShock’sprospectingpowersandtothedoctor’sskill。Andsomanyamiletheydrovetogethertotheirmutualgood。For，whilethedoctorprosecutedwithdelightanddiligencehishealingart，allunconsciouslyhehimselfwasregainingsomethingofhisfreedomandmanhood。