He was still laboring when White Buffalo crawled over the fallen trees toward them. Close at hand the flames were springing up, but the Indian stamped them out. Then he chopped away at the limb, and soon Dave was released.
“Are the others safe?” asked the young soldier. “I had an idea we would all be killed.”
All were out of the wreckage but one Indian and Heppy the messenger. These two had been lying under a large rock, which had loosened, and it was at first supposed that both were dead, but then came a faint cry for help.
“They are in a hollow tree under the rock,” said Grassbrook.
Such proved to be the case, and then arose the question of how the unhappy pair might be released.
“We must put out all the fire first,” said Barringford, and this was done, the flames being fought with flat sticks and with chunks of snow and dirt.
As soon as the last of the fires were extinguished, the large rock resting over the hollow was examined. There was an opening to the space below, so the prisoners beneath did not suffer from the want of air.
“We are both all right,” announced Heppy. “But we want to get out.”
“We must pry the rock off the hollow,” said Barringford.
Two long and heavy poles were cut for that purpose, and despite the wind and the cold, the whole party set to work to move the big rock from its resting place. The poles were placed under other rocks, acting as fulcrums, and all of those who could “get in line” were pressed into service.