He still stood there when Morgan, who had been on an errand to headquarters, came galloping back on his way to the dam.

“Accident down below,” he said.  “Man hurt in the mixer.  Arm crushed.”

Bryant jerked his head about to look at the drop two hundred yards farther down the ridge.  He saw the workmen grouped together.  The huge cylindrical machine was motionless.

“I’ll see,” he exclaimed, hurrying to his runabout.

He drove recklessly to where the injured man lay, helped lift him into the car, and bidding the foreman stand on the running board and support the unconscious labourer, set off for headquarters at such speed as was possible.  Into the low shack used for hospital purposes the two carried their charge, and as the doctor was absent Bryant began a search to find him.  He ran down the camp street shouting the doctor’s name and along the ditch where the teams moved, until he encountered Carrigan.

“Doc ain’t here.  Who’s hurt?” Pat asked.  For a call for the doctor could mean but one thing.

Bryant described the nature of the accident and both men hastened back to the hospital.  The door was now closed.  Before it, stood the foreman of the concrete gang, who was narrating for the benefit of a group of cooks and freighters details of the mishap.

Bryant turned the knob, but the door was locked.

“He stationed me here to keep men out,” the foreman said.

“Then he’s in there.”

“Yes, came a-running.  Was loafing out there in the brush and having a smoke.  Said he was going to operate at once, then locked the door.”

“Not alone!” Lee exclaimed.

“No, he has help.  One of the engineers from the office, who had come trotting over to see what was wrong, and a girl.”

“A girl!  What girl?”

The foreman shook his head.

“Don’t know who she is.  She came riding in from the south.  When she saw us hustling round, she asked what had happened and jumped off her horse and inquired of the Doc whether she could be of any help.  He looked at her, then said yes.  She’s in there now.  One of the men is caring for her horse.”

“A bay horse?”

“Yes.  And a pretty girl, too.  I’d almost lose an arm to have a good-looker like her hovering over me.”

“All right, Jenks.  You can go back now.  Get another man for your crew from Morgan.  I’ll obtain this fellow’s name and his address, if he has any, from the time-keeper, in case he passes in his checks.”

The foreman started away.  The group before the door disintegrated and presently disappeared.  Pat glanced at the sun, lighted a cigar, and asked: 

“Do we start a night shift?”

“Yes; whenever you can bring in the men.”

“Then I’ll wire for some right away.  The thermometer was five below this morning, and only twenty-two above this noon.  She’s cold at last.”

“Go to it, Pat.  I’ll stay here till Doc is through.”