It was Wilbur's, but Merle quite naturally took it from him and assumed charge of the ensuing operation.

Wilbur Cowan had to stand by with no place to put his hands--a mere onlooker.

Yet it was his practical mind that devised the method at last adopted, for the early efforts of his brother to sever the braid evoked squeals of pain from the patient.

At Wilbur's suggestion she was backed up to the fence and the braid brought against a board, where it could be severed strand by strand.

It was not neatly done, but it seemed to suffice.