"It's his leg," Dick explained, after he had made a brief examination. "I'm afraid it's broken. We must get him away from here as soon as possible."
"Put him back on the steamer," was the suggestion of several. "He can go down to the mission station. They'll look after him there better than we can."
"No, no!" moaned the injured man. "For God's sake, let me stay! I must stake my claim."
"Guess he'll have to stay," spoke up the captain of the Packet. "We couldn't do anything with him on board. He needs attention at once, and more than we can give him."
"You are right," Dick replied. "He must remain here. We'll look after you, Pete, so don't worry."
By this time Martin had joined the crowd, and was listening to the conversation.
"Bring him up to my house," he quietly remarked. "We'll take care of him as well as we can."
At these words the miners turned and looked upon the speaker. They were surprised at his sudden appearance in their midst, and several questioned one another as to where he had come from.
Dick at once motioned to the men standing near, who lifted Pete in their arms and carried him as gently as they could up the slope to Martin's house, and laid him upon the cot within the building.
"It is a pity that we are giving you so much trouble," Dick apologised, as Nance met him at the door. "We are certainly making a hospital out of your house."