So Tom led the way to the shack, and did not see the departure of the law's five officers.
Outside Reade carefully dropped the ore he had brought along and made a sign to his workmen to do the same. Then the partners and the physician went inside.
Tom watched closely while the physician placed a thermometer in Harry's mouth and felt his pulse. Respiration was also counted, after which Dr. Scott produced a stethoscope and listened at Harry's chest and back. A little more, and the examination was completed.
"Gentlemen," announced Dr. Scott, "you've brought me all this distance over the snow-crust to see a patient who is just about convalescent. This young man may have some nourishment today, and by day after tomorrow he will be calling loudly for the cook."
"What has been the trouble, doc?" Hazelton asked.
"Congestion of the right lung, my son, but the congestion has almost wholly disappeared."
A mist came before Tom Reade's eyes. Now that his chum was out of danger Reade realized how severe on him the whole ordeal had been.
As soon as Tom found a chance he asked Dr. Scott:
"Will a little excitement of the happiest kind hurt Hazelton any?"
"Just what kind of excitement?"