h, at which he was sucking rapidly. In spite of
its dark lacquer of tan his face had a grayish tinge.

"Sick?" he asked of Bryant, jerking a nod toward Louise Graham.

"A bit. Have Doc give you a little brandy in a glass. And bring out
her things, too."

Rymer went back into the shack, presently returning with the liquor
and accompanied by the young doctor, who still had his sleeves rolled
up. Louise swallowed the fiery dram.

"That--that would raise the dead!" she gasped, wiping sudden tears
from her eyes. She sat up, pushed back the hair from her brow, and
began to glance about.

"How's your man?" Bryant asked the doctor.

"Right as a trivet--if no complications set in. Have him stowed on a
cot in the inner room. Bring on your next."

"You ought to be the next," said Lee, darkly.

"Because I grabbed her? Well, I'll use her another time if she's
about. Steady as a pin. No wasted motion, either. Passed me
instruments and things like a veteran nurse. I just gave a nod or
glance and she had the right tray. I wanted to pat her on the
shoulder. Can't give people that thing; it's a born knack. Knowing
exactly what's wanted at the instant. She has it, has it to the tips
of her fingers."

Lee said no more. The young doctor was still labouring under the
excitement of the past hour and swimming in exultation at performing
an operation that would have taxed the skill of an experienced
surgeon. It had been one of those wicked cases--arm crushed to the
shoulder, everything gone into a hodge-podge of flesh and arteries and
splintered bone, a case for fast work and at the same time for
delicate closure of the stump. This had been thrust at Higginson like
a flash, he out of a medical school but a year and a half, still
coaxing a moustache, so to speak. Lee perceived it all. The matter for
Higginson had been like the ditch with Bryant: something tremendous,
something to be met with the means at hand, something to be
accomplished at all costs. And now his brain was ringing with triumph.
He was superior to anything Bryant might think or say or do. For the
moment he was quite ecstatic. One in his exalted state could conceive
nothing unmeet in having haled a strange, sensitive girl into the
ghastly business for an assistant.

"I'll conduct Miss Graham to my office, where she can remain until
she's wholly herself," Bryant said. "This air is too sharp. You have
everything, Rymer--cap, coat, gauntlets? Bring them along."

"But