Mabie told us about those friends of his who
were nearly burned to death seven years ago; and that was a prairie
fire, too," observed Will, continuing to cast anxious glances around.
"Amen to that," remarked Bluff.
"Why, you must think I'm just wild to try my legs, with a healthy blaze
jumping after me; but I'm not, all the same. Come along, Lazy-bones!
We're going to have the delightful pleasure of covering those ten miles
back again," and Jerry pulled Will to his feet.
"Ten miles!" groaned the other dismally, making a pretense of hobbling,
as if his muscles had given out. "How in the world can I ever do it?"
"Well, sing out when you want to stop. We'll hang you up in a tree, safe
and sound, just as I did that wolf I got; and later on one of the boys
can come for you with a horse," was Jerry's cheerful remark.
"Oh, I'd hate to put you to any additional trouble, so I'll try my best
to limp along," replied Will, who, of course, was only shamming, in that
he was not half so tired as he tried to make out.
So they turned their faces toward the home camp, and started trudging
along, now and then calling to one another as something caught their
fancy.
Pages:
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189