As he hurried away three or four men came down the hill with the sledge and stretcher, and one rigged and lighted a powerful lamp.  Accidents are common at construction camps, and one of Norton’s gang examined Festing.

“He’s sure got it badly; arm’s not the worst,” he said.  “We’ll tend to that and then slide 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 permit.  Sometimes Festing groaned, and sometimes made a feeble movement, but so far as Charnock could see, his eyes were shut.