A sick partner, Miller had said: but he, Ross, also had a sick partner, although the sickness was more of the mind than the body; and that partner objected to his going. What should he do? His training with his uncle would leave him no choice if he had only himself to consult in the matter. He was better than no doctor at all, and he was called on for help; therefore he must obey the call. But there was Weimer, who had learned to depend on him, and who, he feared, might relapse during his absence, however brief, into his former irresponsible state, for Leslie was, of course, a stranger to the methods which Ross had been obliged to employ to keep Weimer busy. Nor was Leslie, who had acted under Wilson's direction, accustomed to going ahead with the work as Ross had been obliged to do. But if the trip would occupy only a couple of days--well, he could not refuse to go. Here he became conscious that Miller was addressing him, and that Uncle Jake was leaning eagerly toward him. "If Doc here is willin'," Miller was saying, "we might go into cahoots this way: If my pard needs 'im longer than a day 'r two, I'll come along back and buckle down t' work here 'n' help you out while he's there a-nussin'----" "Yah, yah!" consented Weimer eagerly. "Den he may mit you go. You could do more vork dan Doc. You come pack und mit us vork." Ross, relieved, turned to the peg where hung his cap. "I'll go up to the tunnel and get Leslie, Uncle Jake, and you take hold of the dinner." "Leslie," repeated Miller carelessly. "Who's he?" Ross, leaving Weimer to relate Leslie's history, hurried up to the tunnel. He wanted to see Leslie alone and give him numerous suggestions and directions beyond the reach of Weimer's ears. "Of course, Less," he ended as the two finally started toward the shack together, "even if I do have to stay, and Miller comes back, he won't know how to manage Uncle Jake in case he has a relapse into the state that I found him in. And Miller looks like a strong willing fellow to work, so guess we won't lose anything by my going. Anyway I've got to go, for he says his partner is in a bad way." Miller's partner, it seemed, had been caught under a log they were "snaking" down to the cabin. His arm was crushed and in bad shape. "Some way, Ross," Leslie burst out uneasily, "I mightily hate to have you go. I'll be deadly lonesome up here without you even for a couple of days." "But if I'm not back then this Miller will be," returned Ross hopefully, "and he shows up rather agreeably." After a hasty dinner, Ross selected from his chest all that he considered would be required. Some of the articles Miller put into his game pouch, Ross making up a bundle himself to bind on his own back and so divide the load. At one o'clock they started, with Weimer and Leslie standing in the doorway, the former urging them on with many expressions of hope for a speedy return that they might get ahead of "dose consarned gang."