Kneeling that he might get his shoulder under one end of the heavy branch, Jack tried to raise it, but in vain.
He was making the second effort, Bill moaning piteously meanwhile, when Aunt Nancy arrived, and she, like Jack, thought only of relieving suffering.
"Where are you hurt, William?" she asked anxiously.
"I don't know, but it seems as if the ache was all over my body."
"How did the accident happen?"
"I was choppin' this limb off to build a new raft, an' it fell on me."
"Can you lift it, Jack dear?"
"I'm afraid not; it's terribly heavy."
"Let me help you."
The two strained and tugged all to no purpose, when, as he paused to regain his breath and wipe the perspiration from his face, Jack said,—