for it, an' I'll lie here an'
root for you."

He was getting excited, and at this juncture the nurse interposed and
Drew had to go, after promising to come again the first thing in the
morning.

He sent a message on leaving the hospital to Captain Hamilton, and the
next morning they went in company to visit the patient.

They were delighted to learn that he was doing well. There were no
complications, and it was only a matter of time before the injured leg
would be as well as ever.

The captain had been grieved to hear of his old friend's mishap. He
expressed his entire willingness to postpone the trip till some time in
the future when Tyke could go along. But the latter had been thinking
the matter over and was even more determined than he had been the night
before that his injury should not prevent the expedition going forward
as planned.

"One man more or less don't make any difference," he declared. "Of
course, I'd set my heart on going with you, an' I ain't denying it's a
sore disappointment to have to lie here like some old derelict. But it
would worry me a good deal more to know that I was knocking the whole
plan to flinders. Our agreement still stands, except that I'll have to
be a silent partner instead of an active one. Allen can represent me,
as well as himself, when you git to the island. But I can do my part
in outfitting the expedition as well as though I was on my feet. My
leg is out of commission, but my arm isn't, an' I can still sign
checks," and he chuckled. "You fellers go right ahead now and git
busy."

There was no swerving him from his determination, and, although
reluctantly, they were forced to acquiesce. The captain went ahead
with his preparations, and Drew redoubled his activities, as now he had
to do two men's work. But his superb vitality laughed at work and he
became so engrossed in it that he forgot everything else.

Except Ruth Adams!

Consciously or sub-consciously, her gracious memory was with him always.

In the first rush of exultation that he felt when he found himself
admitted as an equal partner in the possible gains of the expedition,
he had overlooked the fact that it meant an absence, more or less
prolonged, from the city where he supposed Ruth Adams to be. How many
things might happen in the interval! Suppose in his absence some
fortunate man should woo and win her? A girl so attractive could not
fail to have suitors. He felt that the golden fruit