him gently on the stretcher. Carrying him might be
dangerous; we'll fix the whole outfit on the sled."

While they were occupied a plume of smoke shot up above the pines, and
Charnock knew Kerr had sent off a locomotive to bring help. When they
had put Festing on the stretcher a man arrived with brandy, but Festing
could not swallow, and seizing the sledge traces, they started up the
hill. Norton was in the shack when they reached it, and felt Festing's
clothes.

"Not damp; it would be safer to let him lie until the doctor comes," he
said, and sent the men away. Then he turned to Charnock sharply. "Sit
right down!"

Charnock swayed, clutched the chair, and sank limply into the seat. The
floor heaved and the quiet figure on the stretcher got indistinct. Then
Norton held out a glass.

"Drink it quick!"

Charnock's teeth rattled against the glass, but he swallowed the liquor,
and sat motionless for a moment or two.

"Seemed to lose my balance. Bit of a shock you know, and I expect that
stone hit me pretty hard."

"So I imagine; there's an ugly bruise on your face," said Norton, giving
him back the glass. "The first dose braced you. Take some more."

"I think not," said Charnock, with a forced smile. "Dangerous remedy if
you have suffered from my complaint. Didn't know my face was hurt until
you told me. When d'you think the doctor will come?"

"There's a man at Jackson's Bench. Loco ought to make the double trip in
about two hours."

"Two hours!" said Charnock faintly, and braced himself to wait.

CHAPTER XXIX

FOUL PLAY

Some time after the accident a doctor arrived and set Festing's arm. He
found two ribs were broken and suspected other injuries, but could
not question his half conscious patient. When he had done all that was
possible in the meantime and had seen Festing lifted carefully into his
bunk, he put a dressing on Charnock's bruised face and pulled a chair to
the fire.

"I'll keep watch; your partner has got an ugly knock," he said. "Don't
think I'll want anything, and you had better go to bed."

Charnock could not sleep and spent the night uncomfortably on a chair.
He was sore and dazed, but his anxiety would not let him rest, and once
or twice he softly crossed the floor to his comrade's bunk. The last
time he did so the doctor, whose head had fallen forward, looked up with
a jerk and frowned as he signed him to go back. After this, Charnock
kept as still as his jarred nerves would perm