"Go down and take a look at the road, Hazy," Tom desired, after the sun had been out for an hour. "The water's running out of the road, or drying off, pretty fast" Hazelton reported on his return. "Still, a doctor would have a hard job getting over the road as yet." "Did you see anyone trying to get over the road with a vehicle?" Reade inquired. "Not a soul or a wheel," Harry answered. "As far as travel goes the road might as well be a strip of the Sahara Desert." Reuben Hinman's breathing was so labored that it disturbed the watchers a good deal. "We're doing all we can for you, and we'll get better care for you, just as soon as we can," Tom explained, resting a hand on the fever-flushed face. "I know," wheezed the old man painfully. "Good boy!" By eight o'clock all hands were astir. "Are we going to get any breakfast to-day?" asked the tramp known as Joe. "Yes," nodded Dick, choking back the temptation to say something caustic. By nine o'clock the meal had been eaten. The stove now made the tent so hot that Mr. Hinman's cot had to be moved to the farther end and the tent flaps thrown open to admit cooler air. Greg had attended to feeding both of the horses, which had gotten through the dismal night without very much discomfort. Now Dick went down to look at the road. "I'm going to mount our horse, bareback, and keep straight on up the road," he announced, coming back. "I will not have to go very far before I find a physician." "No, you're not going, either," broke in the boss tramp. "I am going." "But, see here, I can't very well let a stranger like you go off with our horse," Dick objected smilingly. "You don't have to," retorted the other. "I'll go on foot, and I'll make the trip as fast as I can, too. But maybe you'd better give me a note to the doctor. He might not pay much attention to a sick call from a fellow who looks as tough as I do." "If I let you go, can I depend upon you to keep right on going straight and fast, until you deliver a note to a doctor?" asked Prescott, eyeing the boss tramp keenly. "Yes!" answered the tramp, returning the glance with one so straightforward that Dick felt he could really trust the man. "And if the first doctor won't or can't come, I'll keep on going until I find one who will take the call." "Good for you!" cried Tom Reade heartily. "And if it weren't for fear of startling you, I'd say that the next thing you'll be doing will be to find and accept a job, and work again like a useful man!" "That would be startling," grinned the fellow, half sullenly. Dick wrote the note. Away went his ill-favored looking messenger. Dick turned to administer more nitre to the peddler. "Do you expect to move on at all to-day?" Dave asked of Dick.