"Blaisdell must have been off color for days, and didn't really know it." All three worked rapidly getting everything in readiness for the coming of the assistant engineer.

Then Mr.Blaisdell was brought in, on a stretcher rigged between two ponies.

The acting chief is face was violently flushed, his eyes seemed bright as diamonds.
"Reade," said the acting chief thickly, as they lifted him from the litter to his cot, "if I'm not better by morning you'll have to get word to the chief." "Yes, sir," assented Reade, placing a hand on Blaisdell's forehead.
It felt hot and feverish.

"May I ask, sir, if you verified any of the sights on Nineteen ?" "I---I took some of 'em," replied the acting chief hesitatingly.
"Reade, I'm not sure that I remember aright, but I think---I think---you and Hazelton were correct about that.

I---wish I could---remember." Bill Blaisdell closed his eyes, and his voice trailed off into murmurs that none around him could understand.