The jump itself was accomplished with reasonable success. But as the roan landed, the jarring of its four hooves was too much for its rider. Matthew wobbled from side to side and then, unable to right himself, toppled at last onto the hard-packed dirt, falling awkwardly with his legs bent beneath him and landing in a heap on the ground.

Sabina was off her horse and running toward him the same instant. She reached him to find him grimacing in what was obvious pain and holding the lower part of his left leg. “Well, if I don’t wind up on the ground every time I’m with you!” he groaned, trying to laugh. But his face was white as a sheet.

“I’ll bring Papa,” she said, trying to sound calm but sensing the injury to be a serious one.

Matthew nodded but said nothing. In truth, the pain was so intense that his eyes had begun to water, and he would rather be alone.

Sabina remounted her horse, then sped up the hill, jumped off at the stables, and sprinted the rest of the way on foot, calling out as she went. Her father heard her, and before she was halfway across the courtyard to the house, the two men emerged at a run from the garden. The next minute all three were running down the hill to the site of the accident.

The baron reached Matthew first and knelt down. A hasty examination removed any doubt that the doctor would have to be summoned. He stood, and as Thaddeus knelt down beside his son and spoke softly to him, the baron gave his daughter instructions.

“Sabina,” he said, “go quickly and telephone Herr Abrahams in the village.” After a moment’s reflection he added, lowering his voice, “Tell him to bring what he might need to set a bone.”

“Oh, Papa!” cried Sabina, bringing her hands to her cheeks in terror.

“He will be fine,” said the baron, “but if there is a break, it needs to be set quickly. Now go.”

Next the baron went for Schmidt and a flat cart, while Thaddeus remained with his son. A few minutes later the cart rumbled down the hill behind a sturdy old plough horse. They carefully eased Matthew onto it, taking precautions not to bend or move his leg. The pain from any movement, however, was sufficient to insure its protection. Schmidt slowly turned the ambulance-horse and led him up the wide winding pathway to the house, while the baron and Thaddeus walked along on either side of Matthew. Presently Sabina came running back down from the house and met the slow ambulance train.

“Does it hurt terribly, son?” asked the baron.

“I would say it hurts about as bad as anything I’ve felt before,” replied Matthew, attempting a laugh.