were very stern and his lips had set in an
ominously determined fashion. Benson, who glanced at him once or
twice, thought it boded trouble for the doctor if things went badly.
The American had a ruthless air.

At length Clarke, moving silently but quickly, bent over his patient,
felt his pulse, and listened to his breathing; and Harding leaned
eagerly forward. Blake seemed less restless, his face, which had been
furrowed, was relaxing; there was a faint damp on it. He moved and
sighed, but the sigh was somehow reassuring, and then turning his head
weakly, closed his eyes. A few moments later Clarke stood up,
stretching out his arms with a gesture of deep weariness.

"I believe your partner has turned the corner," he said. "He must
sleep as long as he is able."

Harding crept away, conscious of a relief so overpowering that he was
afraid he might do something foolish and disturb his comrade if he
remained. Scarcely noticing where he was going, he plunged into the
swamp and ploughed through it, smashing down the reeds and splashing in
the pools. Quick movement was balm to his raw-edged nerves, for the
suspense of the last two hours had tried him very hard. When he
returned to camp, rather wet and muddy, Clarke, who made him a sign
demanding silence, was sitting by his patient's side, and Harding saw
that Blake was sound asleep. Then with a sense of thankfulness too
deep for expression he set about preparing the evening meal. Now he
could eat with appetite.

Before he and Benson had finished their repast Clarke joined them and,
answering a question, said, "I believe the worst danger's over, though
there's a possibility of a relapse. He'll need careful attention for
several days."

"Longer I think," said Harding. "Anyhow, you'll have to make up your
mind to stop while it strikes us as necessary."

"My time's valuable and you run some risk in keeping me. You must
recognize that there's a likelihood of the Stonies picking up my trail."

"If they get here, they'll run up against all the trouble they'll have
any use for," Harding rejoined. "However, I told our guide, who seems
pretty smart at such matters, to take precautions, and I understand he
fixed things so it would be hard to follow our tracks. You may
remember that he took us across all the bare rocks he could find and
made us wade up a creek. Besides, as you seem to have played on your
friends' superstitions, they mayn't find anything remarkabl