boy," he said to himself, as he took his
place kneeling in the stern of the canoe, "give her every ounce you
have." For half an hour without pause, except twice to give his patient
stimulant, the sweeping paddle and the swaying body kept their rhythmic
swing, till down the last riffle shot the canoe and in a minute more was
at the Landing.

"Duprez! Here, quick!" The doctor stood in the door of the stopping
place, wet as if he had come from the river, his voice raucous and his
face white.

"Mon Dieu!" exclaimed the Frenchman, "what de mattaire?"

The doctor swept a glance about the room. "Sick man," he said briefly.
"I want this bed. Get your buckboard, quick." He seized the bed and
carried it out before the eyes of the astonished Duprez.

Duprez was a man slow of speech but quick to act, and by the time the
bed had been arranged on the buckboard he had his horse between the
shafts.

"Now then, Duprez, give me a hand," said the doctor.

"Certainment. Bon Dieu! Dat's de bon preechere! Not dead, heh?"

"No," said the doctor, glancing sharply into the haggard face while he
placed his fingers upon the pulse. "No. Now get on. Drive carefully, but
make time."

In a few minutes they reached the road that led to the hospital, which
was well graded and smooth. Duprez sent along his pony at a lope and in
a short space of time they reached the door of the hospital, where they
were met by Orderly Ben Fallows on duty.

"Barney! By the livin' jumpin' Jemima Jebbs!" cried Ben. "What on
earth--"

But the doctor cut him short. "Ben, get the Matron, quick, and get a
bed ready with warm blankets and hot water bottles. Go, man! Don't gape
there!"

Still gaping his amazement, Ben skipped in through the hall and up the
stair as fast as his wooden leg would allow him. He reached the office
door. "Miss Margaret," he gasped, "Barney's at the door with a sick man.
Wants a bed ready. We 'aven't got one--and--"

The look upon the matron's face interrupted the flow of his words.
"Barney?" she said, rising slowly to her feet. "Barney?" she said again,
her hand clutching the desk and holding hard. "What do you mean, Ben?"
The words came slowly.

"He wants a bed for a sick man and we 'aven't--"

Margaret took a step toward him. "Ben," she said, in breathless haste,
"get my room ready. But first tell Nurse Crane to come to me quick. Go,
Ben."

The orderly hurried away, leaving her alone. With trembling hands she
shut the door, tur