CHAPTER XXIX
BART’S BEST SHOT
Bart turned to Fenn. He was just about to whisper to his chum to take up the pursuit of the mysterious man, leaving him to attempt a difficult shot to save the life of the lineman, but at that instant there was a swaying in the crowd, and a boy stumbled up against Fenn’s sore arm. The injured lad uttered a cry of pain. His face turned white, and he was struggling to stay on his feet.
“Catch him! He’s going to faint!” cried some one, and faint poor Fenn did, being caught in the arms of two men.
Bart felt his brain reeling, but, by a strong effort he held himself together.
There was now no chance of continuing the pursuit of the mysterious man. Fenn was being carried to a place where he could be cared for. It was impossible to communicate with Ned and Frank, who were on the other side of the street, and Bart could not go away and leave the man on the pole to die. There was no help for it. He must stay and try, by a most difficult shot, to sever the dangerous wire.
“Will you do it? Can you do it?” asked the lineman who had proposed the extreme measure to the lad. “It’s the only chance. Can you cut that wire?”
“I think so,” was the quiet answer. No one in that crowd knew under what a strain Bart Keene was at that moment. No one associated the now unconscious Fenn with him, and no one dreamed that Bart was anxious to continue after a man who he believed to be a criminal, and who was fast making his escape.
“Can you hold on a minute longer, George?” called a workman on the ground, up to the lineman on the pole.