"It's my foot," he said, in answer to Hurley's question. "My ankle--something happened when we fell--just wait a little--it'll be all right in a minute."
After a moment's pause they started off again, but King found walking impossible. Keith McBain called a couple of men and they carried him to Hurley's cottage, where they laid him on a couch and left him in the care of Cherry and Mrs. Hurley.
McBain and Hurley went off at once to the scene of the early morning struggle. Gabe lingered a little while with King, busying himself with such odd jobs as Cherry and Mrs. Hurley found for him.
In a short time King had recovered sufficiently from the first ill-effects of his battle with McCartney to give some thought to what was going on outside.
"Have they gone back--McBain and Hurley?" he asked.
Gabe replied in the affirmative. "An' they'll handle it, too--don't you worry!" he added.
Gabe took the hand that King extended to him and waited.
Gabe went out at once and King looked at Cherry, who was standing above him, her hand resting lightly upon his head.
"I want to tell Anne," he said quietly. "I want her to know I didn't want to do this. I want her to understand--it had to come."
King nodded in reply. Then he reached up and took her hand.
"Come down here beside me," he said, and his face was very serious.
Cherry knelt on the floor beside the couch.
"Cherry," he whispered, drawing her towards him, "I don't deserve it--but I want to kiss you."
She leaned forward and King's arms went round her as their lips met.
Keith McBain and his men went to work as if nothing had occurred for days to disturb the quiet, work-a-day life they had been living for months. Only one building was in imminent danger of being swept away by the flood, and in less than ten minutes after the close of the fight the men were busily engaged removing the camp equipment preparatory to taking the logs down and shifting the buildings back from the water's edge.
Gabe came upon the old contractor giving orders and directing the work in his customary way.
"Where is she?" asked Gabe, excitedly, as he came up with McBain.
McBain left the men and accompanied Gabe back to MacMurray's. They found McCartney lying on a bench where his men had placed him. Rickard was standing beside him talking with MacMurray.