Through the trees they saw a cloud of steam and smoke. The air was shrill with incessant quick steam-whistles as a huge steam-shovel growled and tore like a ravenous monster at the gravelled hillside. Four men bearing a stretcher came slowly down the trail. A man on horseback, wearing riding-breeches and leather leggings, rode in their wake.
“How are you, Doctor Paul?” greeted Douglas. “Is it a serious accident?”
“Tree fell on him. Broke both legs, and he is hurt internally—won’t live,” answered the doctor in a low voice.
Donald glimpsed the face of the sufferer showing ashen through a stubby beard. Bloody bandages framed two crimson-stained lips, from which issued gurgling groans of agony. They moved on in silence for a few moments.
“When people ride in trains,” observed Gillis “there ain’t one in a thousand that knows what it costs in sufferin’ and lives to make it so’s they can ride in comfort.”
By mid-afternoon they came to the vanguard of the army of workers, the men who were clearing the right-of-way. At intervals they could hear the long-drawn cry of the choppers as the top of a giant tree shivered and then with a great rending crash fell to earth with a resounding roar. Here they came to the end of the new road, and with a feeling of relief they plunged into the cool shadow of the virgin woods. After the great clamour, the forest, through which the trail wandered deviously, seemed steeped in primal calm. The roar of the blasts no longer came in definite crashes, but was smothered by the distance to a muffled rumble.
A rider jogging down the trail reined in his horse and shouted a cheery greeting in true Western style. He was a clean-limbed, alert young man, with a frank smile, and seemed elastic with the sword-keen health of outdoors. He swung easily from the saddle and introduced himself.
“My name is Wilkinson. I am the District Ranger. It’s getting a bit dry in spots, so I want you to be careful about your fires.”
When Douglas told him the object of their trip to Summit Lake the Ranger smiled apologetically.
“My warning was unnecessary, then. I took you for a party of campers. I’m following the construction work, so will probably see you again before long.”