“I hope you’re not hurt much, Allan?” said Thad, solicitously, as he reached the side of his chum, and began feeling for the trap with both hands.
“It isn’t as comfortable as it might be,” admitted the other, with a nervous little laugh, “and I guess I’ll have to join the ranks of the limpers for a few days; but then, think how much worse it might have been, Thad.”
“You mean if the trap had been new instead of worn out, Allen?”
“Yes, that’s it, with the springs good, and strong enough to hold even a big bear. Whew! I guess I’m some lucky at that. And then, if I didn’t have a lot of splendid chums close at hand to help me, I might have a tough time getting out myself; because, you see, they staked the old trap down to the ground, and I just don’t seem able to turn far enough to get at the second spring.”
“I warrant you’ve been trying, all right,” suggested Thad.
“You just bet I have,” chuckled Allan, “for five minutes or so, turning and twisting. You see, I didn’t want the rest of you to know how I’d stepped plumb into an old bear trap, hidden under the dead leaves here.”
“But of course you couldn’t make it?” Thad continued, watching Giraffe waving a blazing brand about his head to induce it to flame up better, as he left the fire, and started toward the others.
“Had to own up at last,” admitted Allan, “because it hurt badly every time I tried to turn around. But now it will be all right; for here’s Giraffe and his light.”
“A good torch she is, too,” declared the long scout, coming up just then; “burns just like that fat pine or light wood we had down in North Carolina. My! what an immense trap. It must pinch that leg of yours some, Allan.”
“Get around on that side, Step Hen,” ordered Thad, “and be sure, once you stand on the spring, not to get off until I give the word; because if you did, it will close the jaws as quick as that, and perhaps do more damage.”