If Johnny had actually seen Seth fire at McKinstry, the latter's mysterious wound was accounted for--but not Seth's motive.

The act was so utterly incomprehensible and inconsistent with Seth's avowed hatred of the master that the boy must have been delirious.
He was roused by the entrance of the surgeon.

"It's not so bad as I thought," he said, with a reassuring nod.

"It was a mighty close shave between a shattered bone and a severed artery, but we've got the ball, and he'll pull through in a week.

By Jove! though--the old fire-eater was more concerned about finding the ball than living or dying! Go in there--he wants to see you.