HOMEWARD BOUND—CONCLUSION
"Help! Let go of me! Hi! Elmer, he's up here! Come quick, I can't hold him any longer!"
That was what Toby was shrieking excitedly, as he struggled with the poor demented Spanish War veteran. Then there came answering shouts from Elmer, now close at hand; but of course Toby could not carry out any directions that were fired at him.
Presently those below saw the two figures topple over the edge, Toby still frantically clutching his beloved parachute, which was extended to its fullest dimensions, and the other evidently fiercely trying to hold on to his supposed enemy.
The extended blanket was torn from the grasp of the two boys, despite their earnest attempt to hold it taut; but at the same time it must have helped break the fall of the pair. The parachute had not been built for two, and could not be expected to bear their combined weight, in spite of Toby's boasts about half a ton not being too much.
One of the recumbent figures instantly sprang to his knees. It was Toby, and he still gripped the rod of his parachute with a determined hold.
"Never hurt me a teenty bit!" he shrilled, in his excitement; and then he suddenly stilled his ardor, for on looking down he saw the crazy man, dressed in that soiled white uniform brought from Cuba, lying there with the blood trickling down the side of his head, and the sight shocked Toby into repressing his exultation.
But Elmer was coming on the run, and already Doctor Ted had knelt beside Ralph Oxley, with his professional instincts all aroused. He sent one of the boys racing to the camp for his medicine case; and Elmer on his arrival suggested that they carry the unconscious young man to where the fire burned.
Being scouts, and accustomed to making a good litter out of almost anything, they speedily arranged it so that between four of them the victim of the fall was borne to the camp. On the way they met Lil Artha and George, hurrying toward the house; but of course these parties now returned with them, since the medicine case was needed in camp.
Ted first of all washed the wound in the young soldier's head with cold water, and then applied a cloth soaked in soothing balm, that would assist in stopping the bleeding.