At this moment, however, came a sound that caused Jabez to pause. Not far away somebody whistled sharply in the woods.
"What’s that?" exclaimed Scudder, startled. "Somebody’s coming."
"Keep still!" advised Lynch, in a guarded tone, although he looked somewhat alarmed and quickly drew on his coat.
The whistle sounded nearer, and then a dog barked. Jabez Lynch stopped for nothing, but scudded softly away, disappearing into the bushes.
"Hold on!" cried Uric, in alarm at thus being deserted. "Wait for me! Don’t run off like that! Hold on!"
His cries seemed to bring some one hurrying toward the spot, and he began descending the tree in great haste, making not a little noise in doing so.
Then a huge dog came bounding into view, setting up a savage barking. At that moment Scudder lost his hold, clutched wildly at a branch, turned, and fell crashing through the limbs toward the ground, a yell of terror escaping his lips.
It seemed that Scudder was in danger of landing on the ground with sufficient violence to break his bones, and the fear that clutched his heart when he felt himself falling was something he did not soon forget.
Fortunately for him, the sharp prong of a strong limb pierced his trousers, and his downward flight was arrested with such suddenness that he nearly lost his breath. There he hung, not more than twelve feet from the ground, perfectly helpless.
His first feeling was one of intense relief and thankfulness. His hands and face smarted from the stinging blows of the smaller branches, received as he crashed through the tree, but he minded that not at all, for had he not been saved from more serious injury by the abrupt checking of his flight?