“Oh, Harry, you must! We can’t stop here!”
“I know that, but m—m—my legs feel as if they weighed a—a ton.”
“Here, give me your hand. We’ll let the other deer go, too. Perhaps old Runnell can bring it in in the morning.”
“It’s a shame to leave the game——”
“I know, but we have got to think of ourselves first. I don’t think we’re so very far from the island. I’ll shoot my gun off as a signal.”
Joe did so, and listened for fully a minute for an answering shot. But no sound but the roaring and shrieking of the wind reached their ears. He slung his gun over his shoulder and literally yanked his brother up.
“Courage, Harry, courage!” he whispered. “You musn’t give in this way. Brace up, old boy!”
“I’m so—so sleepy,” came back, drowsily. “I really can’t go on.”
Yet urged by Joe, Harry took a score of steps or more. But now his teeth were chattering from the cold, and he could not stand, try his best. He sank a dead weight on the ice.
Filled with a new fear, Joe caught his brother up in his arms.