"Party coming, sir," reported a miner, pointing to the southward.
Over the snow came a cutter, drawn by two horses, slipping fast over the snow. From one side of the cutter a pair of skis hung outward.
"That's Jim Ferrers and the doctor from Dugout," Tom breathed.
"But who can the other lot of people be."
A pung, drawn also by a pair of horses, contained five men.
Jim was quickly on hand to explain matters.
"I've brought Dr. Scott. He'll have to see Hazelton quickly, and then get back to Dugout," Jim declared. "The doctor is afraid the crust may melt, and then he'll be stalled here with his outfit.
"Those men over there?" inquired Reade, as the pung stopped, and the five men got out "Two of them look familiar to me."
"I reckon," nodded Jim Ferrers. "They're officers—-all of 'em. They've come over here to hunt the rocks to the south of here. Up at the jail the keepers worried out of Eb some information about a cave where Dolph Gage hangs out. It seems that Gage and his pals have been stealing supplies at the Bright Hope Mine."
Jim introduced Dr. Scott, who said:
"I must see my patient and be away in an hour. I don't want to get stalled here by a thaw."