“When you reach the village, report Appleby Corning’s absence,” Ken urged. “Ask the authorities to send a search party.”
“Si, Senor,” Jose nodded.
He mounted a mule and rode away from the mine, never to be seen by the Scouts again. An irresponsible fellow, he pocketed the money they gave him, and once well away from the area, promptly forgot the mission on which he had been sent.
Left with Rhodes, Jack and Mr. Livingston remained anxiously by the bedside. The patient tossed and jerked restlessly, but his occasional mutterings encouraged them to believe that he might yet recover consciousness.
Mrs. Rhodes was in the kitchen when the engineer’s eyes opened for a moment. He stared blankly into Jack’s face, but without recognition.
“Corning—” he muttered, his voice bitter with hatred. “I’ll get you—I’ll get you!”
As Mr. Livingston moved from the window to join Jack at the bedside, the engineer again lapsed into silence. The Scout leader stood watching him.
“He’s coming around, I think,” he told Jack. “While he may be out of his head for awhile, this is an encouraging sign.”
Within a few minutes, the patient became so restless that he had to be restrained to keep him from flinging off the bed covers.
“Don’t try to stop me!” he muttered. “I’m going back to the mine—Corning can’t take over in my place—I’ll get him for it!”