Buthefoundinhispreoccupationhehadtakenthewrongturninginthepath，andthathewasnowclosetothewallwhichboundedandoverlookedthehighway。Hereasingularspectaclepresenteditself。Acyclistcoveredwithdustwasseatedinthemiddleoftheroad，tryingtorestorecirculationtohisbruisedandinjuredlegbychafingitwithhishands，whilebesidehimlayhisdamagedbicycle。Hehadevidentlymetwithanaccident。InaninstantPaulhadclimbedthewallandwasathisside。
\"CanIofferyouanyassistance？\"heaskedeagerly。
\"Thanks——no！I\'vecomeabeastlycropperoversomethingorotheronthisroad，andI\'monlybruised，thoughthemachinehassufferedworse，\"repliedthestranger，inafresh，cheeryvoice。Hewasagood-lookingfellowofaboutPaul\'sownage，andtheyoungAmerican\'sheartwentouttowardshim。
\"Howdidithappen？\"askedPaul。
\"That\'swhatpuzzlesme，\"saidthestranger。\"Iwasgettingoutofthewayofaqueeroldchapintheroad，andIranoversomethingthatseemedonlyanoldscrollofpaper；buttheshockwassogreatthatIwasthrown，andIfancyIwasforafewmomentsunconscious。