This proposition seemed agreeable to all, so Balser brought in a large gourd filled with nuts, and soon they were all busy cracking and picking.
Then Liney told stories from “The Pilgrim’s Progress” and the Bible. She was at the most thrilling part of the story of Daniel in the lions’ den, and her listeners were eager, nervous, and somewhat fearful, when the faint cry of “Help!” seemed to come right down through the mouth of the chimney.
“Listen!” whispered Balser, holding up his hands for silence. In a moment came again the cry, “Help!” The second cry was still faint, but louder than the first; and the children sprang together with a common impulse, and clung to Balser in unspoken fear.
“Help! help!” came the cry, still nearer and louder.
“Some one wants help,” whispered Balser. “I—must—go—to—him.” The latter clause was spoken rather hesitatingly.
“No, no!” cried Liney. “You must not go. It may be Indians trying to get you out there to kill you, or it may be a ghost. You’ll surely be killed if you go.”
Liney’s remark somewhat frightened Balser, and completely frightened the other children; but it made Balser feel all the more that he must not be a coward before her. However much he feared to go in response to the cry for help, he must not let Liney see that he was afraid. Besides, the boy knew that it was his duty to go; and although with Balser the sense of duty moved more slowly than the sense of fear, yet it moved more surely. So he quickly grasped his gun, and carefully examined the load and priming. Then he took a torch, lighted it at the fire, and out he rushed into the blinding, freezing storm.
“Who’s there?” cried Balser, holding his torch on high.
“Help! help!” came the cry from a short distance down the river, evidently in the forest back of the barn. Balser hurried in the direction whence the cry had come, and when he had proceeded one hundred yards or so, he met a man running toward him, almost out of breath from fright and exhaustion. Balser’s torch had been extinguished by the wind, snow, and sleet, and he could not see the man’s face.
“Who are you, and what’s the matter with you?” asked brave little Balser, meanwhile keeping his gun ready to shoot, if need be.