Brick clenched his teeth. “Go ahead,” he answered bravely. “Gee, I hate to think that I’m holdin’ up the party this way. Maybe if you left me, you might find somebody who would come back and get me.”
“Nonsense! Whatever happens, I won’t leave you, old lad. It won’t be much of a job if I take you with the fireman’s lift.”
Brick grunted as he was hoisted upon his friend’s right shoulder, his body hanging downward from the waist; but he made no outcry as Dirk bore him in this fashion down the hill. In fact, he was so silent that Dirk feared he had fainted for a second time; but since his head hung low, he was in no danger. The truth was that he was gritting his teeth to keep from moaning when the injured ankle swung slightly in their progress.
Dirk, for his part, made haste to reach the brook, for he bore no light burden. But a vision of what might happen were he to injure his own legs among the treacherous roots and rocks of the hillside made him step warily. If both of them lay hurt in the wilderness, with none knowing their plight or whereabouts, they would eventually starve, if they did not sooner die of exposure.
At long last, the burbling of water over stones was heard close at hand, and Dirk eased his burden to the ground. The rains of yesterday had swollen the little watercourse, and a fairly deep pool, overhung with brambles and scrub-oak, glistened beside them.
Dirk wiped the sweat from his face, and took a deep breath. His first care was to bring his companion a drink of water in his cupped hands, and to wash away the sticky grime that clung to Brick’s pale cheeks and forehead.
“That’s swell!” sighed Brick. “Now, if my foot was tied up good and tight, maybe I could hobble on a ways further.”
“I’m taking no chances,” answered Dirk grimly. “That hoof of yours looks bad. Here, move to the bank, right over this place, and dangle it in the cold water. Best thing to take down the swelling.”
Brick Ryan obediently did as he was told. The shock of the chill water on his ankle set his teeth chattering, for all the moist heat of the forest; but soon the injured part became numb, and the throbbing ache nearly stopped.
Almost an hour passed. During this time Dirk had not been idle. He had found a straight, tough sapling of ash with a fork at the top, and with his knife had shaped the ends to the semblance of a rude crutch.