it. Sometimes Festing
groaned, and sometimes made a feeble movement, but so far as Charnock
could see, his eyes were shut.

About three o'clock in the morning, the doctor stood for some minutes
beside the bunk, and Charnock shivered as he watched his face. The shack
seemed very quiet except for the throb of the river and the grinding of
the ice. Then the doctor gave him a nod that hinted at satisfaction, and
told him to refill the iron drum at Festing's feet with hot water. By
and by he put fresh wood in the stove, moving cautiously and taking as
long as possible, because it was a relief to do something after sitting
still in suspense.

At daybreak there was a knock at the door, and Charnock, finding Kerr
and Norton outside, looked at the doctor, who put on his fur-coat and
went out to them.

"Have you any news for us?" Norton asked.

"No change yet. That's encouraging, as far as it goes."

"What about breakfast? Ours is ready. Will you join us?"

"I think not. If my patient doesn't come out of his stupor, I must try
to rouse him soon. Send a man here and take Mr. Charnock. I expect he
needs food."

"Very well," said Kerr. "We'll see the cook looks after you; but can
you give us no idea about Festing? You see, there are matters, business
matters--"

"He has had a bad shock and it will be a long job; a month anyway.
I can't stop long and he ought to have a nurse, although it would be
difficult to get one to come here. But I can't form an opinion yet."

He dismissed them and Kerr took Charnock away. It was very cold. The
white pines were growing into shape; their tops caught the light in the
east and glimmered with a faint warm flush against the dim blue shadow.
Smoke and puffs of steam floated up from the gorge, and the ringing
clang of steel pierced the turmoil of the river. Charnock felt braced
but dizzy. Now he came to think of it, he had eaten no supper, and after
a day of laborious effort the night's watch had fatigued him. Besides,
his face smarted under the bandage, and his back was sore.

When he sat down in Norton's shack, where a plate was put for Kerr, he
felt ravenously hungry and did not talk much until the meal was over.
Then Norton made him sit near the stove.

"It's an awkward business," he said. "To begin with, what are we going
to do about a nurse? This is hardly the place for a woman, and I doubt
if we could get anybody to undertake the job."

"I'll write to Mrs. Festing."

"Would she