It was between three and four miles to the ranch.
He could ride there and back in a few minutes.

Someone must start for a doctor without an instant's loss of time.

With water, proper bandages and stimulants, the wounded man could be cared for and moved in the buckboard with much greater safety than he could be carried in his present condition on a horse.

The risk of leaving him for a few minutes was small, compared to the risk of taking him to the house under the only conditions possible.

The next instant Patches was in Phil's saddle and riding as he had never ridden before.
Jim Reid, with Kitty and Helen, was on the way back from Prescott as Kitty had planned.