"It'll be plumb dark before we get to that cabin," grumbled the beaver man. "This ain't any way to treat a fellow who's been stuck and then burnt. I'm tired o' sittin' on this hoss with my toes out."
"Well, you can get off and let this other man ride. I'll hobble you and he can lead you," said the Ranger.
"What's the matter with the burro?" growled the beaver man. He wasn't so anxious to walk, after all.
Sure! We knew that the Ranger was waiting, so while some of us led up Apache, others bandaged the general's ankle tighter, to make it ride easier and not hurt so much if it dangled. Then we lifted the general, Scout fashion, on our hands, and set him on Apache.
Now something else happened. Red Fox Scout Ward stepped forward and took the lead rope.
"I'm going," he announced quietly. "I'm feeling fine and you other fellows are tired. Somebody must bring the burro back, and the general may need a hand."
"No, I won't," corrected the general.
"But the burro must come back."
"It's up to us Elk Scouts to do that," protested Major Henry. "Some of us will go. You stay. It's dark."
"No, sir. You Elk men have been traveling on short rations and Van Sant and I have been fed up. It's either Van or I, and I'll go." And he did. He was bound to. But it was a long extra tramp.