"Have you the authority?"
"On the approval of the commanding officer."
"Please secure that approval at once. Have all lights taken out of the operating room and the windows shaded. I want to work under red light. We must examine the lungs of these men at once. With all due respect to your medical knowledge, Captain, I am not convinced that these men died of pneumonia."
"Neither am I, Doctor, but that is the best guess I could make. I'll have things fixed up for you right away."
Dr. Bird stepped to the telephone and called the laboratory. When, in half an hour, Captain Murdock announced that he was ready to proceed, Davis had arrived with an ultra-microscope and other apparatus which the doctor had telephoned for.
"Did you arrange about the horses, Davis?" asked Dr. Bird.
"Yes, sir. They will be up here as soon as the trucks can bring them."
"Good enough. We'll start operating."
An hour later, Dr. Bird straightened up and faced the puzzled medical officer.