He tiptoed up to his chum, and bending over looked closely at him. He was struck by the paleness of his face and the fact that Budge did not seem to breathe.
“Nat!” called Jack quickly, “he’s dead! He’s fallen asleep and been killed by those poisonous gases!”
Nat ran up. It did seem as if Budge was dead.
“We must carry him away from here,” said Jack sadly.
“I—I begin to feel rather faint myself,” said Nat as he sat down on the ground.
CHAPTER XXII
AN UNEXPECTED ENCOUNTER
Jack glanced at Nat. The lad was pale, and Jack himself began to feel the effect of the poisonous gas. But he made up his mind he would not give in.
“Brace up, Nat!” he cried. “We must get Budge out of here. Maybe he’s only fainted. Brace up! It will only take us a minute, and then we’ll get where there is better air.”