own I will ask his advice; after knocking about as many years as
he has been, he ought to know what is the best thing to be done."

In half an hour he gave the patient a few spoonfuls of the broth which
had been prepared, and continued every half-hour to give him the
lemonade and broth alternately.

When Abe came down with the tea Frank went outside to meet him, and
explained some of the circumstances of the case, and then took him in to
see his patient.

[Illustration: THE SICK FRIEND IN THE MINING CAMP.]

"I think you are doing the right thing, lad," Abe said, when they went
out into the air again. "He is evidently pretty nigh gone under. I
expect he has been working beyond his strength, and starving, like
enough, at that. He's regular broke up, and has got the fever besides. I
should just keep on at that till morning, and then we shall see; if he
gets on raving you might give him a few drops of laudanum with his
brandy, but I wouldn't do it otherwise. I will bring down that broth
first thing in the morning, it will be a sight stronger than that stuff
you are giving him now."

Fortified by this opinion, Frank lit his pipe, and sat down to his long
watch. He was the more satisfied that he was doing right by the fact
that the pulse was distinctly stronger than it had been when he first
felt it. Occasionally the patient muttered a few words, but he generally
lay perfectly still, with his eyes staring wide open. It was this fixed
stare that tempted Frank at last to give him a few drops of laudanum,
and in an hour later he had the satisfaction of seeing him close his
eyes.

Abe was round soon after daylight, with two pannikins of tea, some
rashers of bacon, and a jug of the essence of beef.

"How is your patient, Frank?"

"I can't tell, except by his pulse; but that certainly seems to me to be
stronger. I gave him a few drops of laudanum a couple of hours ago, and
it seems to me he has been dozing since; at any rate his eyes have been
half-closed. I think that it is extreme weakness more than anything
else; he has overtaxed his strength, and is worn-out with fatigue and
starvation. I shouldn't be surprised if he gets round all right with
quiet and food." The opening of the tent, and the sound of voices
outside, roused the younger digger, who had slept without stirring from
the moment he had lain down. He joined the others outside.

"How I have slept!" he said. "I can't tell you how much I am obliged to
you; I wa