position in the Gap camp
through Dr. Bailey's vigorous measures.

"You have some very sick men in the camp," repeated Dr. Bailey, his
voice sharp and stern.

"Oh, a little tonsilitis," replied Haines in an indifferent tone.

"Diphtheria," said Bailey shortly.

"Diphtheria be hanged!" replied Haines insolently; "I examined them
carefully last night."

"They have diphtheria this morning. I have just taken the liberty of
looking into their throats."

"The deuce you have! I like your impudence! Who sent you in here
to interfere with my practice, young man? Where did you get your
professional manners?" Dr. Haines was the older man and resented the
intrusion of this smooth-faced young stranger, who added to the crime
of his youth that of being guilty of a serious breach of professional
etiquette.

"I ought to apologize for looking at your patients," said Dr. Bailey.
"I came in thinking I might be of some assistance in dealing with this
outbreak of diphtheria, and I was naturally anxious to see--"

"Diphtheria!" blurted Haines. "Nothing of the sort."

"Dr. Haines, the man you sent out last night had it."

"HAD it?"

"He died an hour after arriving at No. 1."

"Dead? Cursed fool! He WOULD go against my will."

"Against your will? Would you let a man in the last stages of diphtheria
leave this camp against your will with the company's team?"

"Well, I knew he shouldn't go. But he wanted to go himself, and the
foreman would have him out."

"There are at least four men going about the camp--they are now in the
cook-house where the breakfast is being prepared--who are suffering from
a severe attack of diphtheria."

"What do you propose? What can I do in this cursed hole?" said Dr.
Haines petulantly. "No appliances, no means of isolation, no nurses,
nothing. Beside, I have half a dozen camps to look after. What can I
do?"

"Do you ask me?" The scorn in the voice was only too apparent. "Isolate
the infected at least."

Haines swore deeply to himself while, with trembling hand, he poured
out a cupful of whiskey from a bottle standing on a convenient shelf.
"Isolate? How can I isolate? There's no building in which--"

"Make one."

"Make one? Young man, do you know what you are talking about? Do you
know where you are? Do you know who is running this camp?"

"No. But I do know that these men must be isolated within an hour."

"Impossible! I tell you it is impossible!"

"Dr. Haines, an inquest upon the man