About four o'clock the boys were startled out of sleep by the crack of a rifle, and the instant response of both barrels of a shotgun.
They were up and out in a moment, for it was their habit just then to sleep in their clothes and even in their boots, and for each to keep his gun by his side ready for instant use.
Running as fast as possible, they quickly joined Ed Parmly, who was on picket at the time, and hurriedly questioned him.
He reported that the rifle shot had come from the edge of the cliff over which the road down the mountain led. He added:
"I sent two charges of buckshot in that direction, but without aim, of course, as it is too dark to see. I reloaded at once, and while I was doing so I heard a groan off there. Perhaps we'd better look the matter up."
Just then came another groan, and, at Tom's suggestion, torches were lighted and an exploration made.
Just over the edge of the little cliff they found a mountaineer. He was in a state of collapse, nine buckshot having passed through the fleshy part of his thigh, cutting arteries and big veins enough to cause profuse hæmorrhage.
"The man is badly hurt," said the Doctor. "We'll carry him to the hut at once and see what can be done for him."
Willing hands lifted and carried the fainting man, and once in the hut the Doctor called for all the torches that could be lighted. Hurriedly he inspected the man's wounds, taking up an artery and putting a compress on a severed vein as he went. Finally he said:
"Fortunately none of the buckshot struck the bone. It is only a flesh wound though it is a very bad one. By the way"—the Doctor was seized with a kindly thought—"Ed Parmly is probably more anxious about this thing than any other boy in the party, and he is still out there on picket. Suppose one of you fellows goes out there to relieve him and let him come in to find out the amount of damage done by his shot."