sent out from this camp last night
would result in the verdict of manslaughter. There was no inquest. There
will be on the next man that dies if there is any neglect."

The seriousness of the situation began to dawn upon Haines. "Well,"
he said, "if you think you can isolate them, go ahead. I'll see the
foreman."

"Every minute is precious. I gave those four men antitoxin. Are there
others?"

"Don't know," Haines growled, as with an oath he went out, followed by
Dr. Bailey. Just outside the door they met the foreman.

"This is Dr. Bailey, Mr. Craigin." Craigin growled out a salutation.
"Dr. Bailey here says these sick men have diphtheria."

"How does he know?" inquired Craigin shortly.

"He has examined them this morning."

"Have you?"

"No, not yet."

"Then you don't know they have diphtheria?"

"No," replied Haines weakly.

"These men have diphtheria, Mr. Craigin, without a doubt, and they ought
to be isolated at once."

"Isolated? How?"

"A separate camp must be built and someone appointed to attend them."

"A separate camp!" exclaimed Craigin; "I'll see them blanked first! Look
here, Haines, let's have no nonsense about this. I'm three weeks, yes,
a month, behind with this job here. This blank, blank muskeg is knocking
the whole contract endways. We can't spare a single man half a day. And
more than that, you go talking diphtheria in this camp and you can't
hold the men here an hour. It's all I can do to hold them as it is." And
Craigin went off into an elaborate course of profanity descriptive of
the various characteristics of the men in his employ.

"But what is to be done?" asked Haines helplessly.

"Send 'em out to the steel. They're better in the hospital, anyway. It's
fine to-day. We'll send every man Jack out to-day."

"These men can't be moved," said Dr. Bailey in a quiet voice. "You sent
a man out yesterday and he's dead."

"He was bound to go himself. We didn't send him. Anyway, it's none of
YOUR business. Look here, Haines, you know me. I'm not going to have
any of this blank nonsense of isolation hospitals and all that blankety
blank rot. Dose 'em up good and send 'em out."

Dr. Haines stood silent, too evidently afraid of the foreman.

"Mr. Craigin, it would be murder," said Dr. Bailey, "sure murder. Some
of them might get through. Some would be sure to die. The consequences
to those responsible--to Dr. Haines, for instance--would be serious. I
am quite sure he will never give