“Literally and figuratively both,” Rex laughed.
“Looks to me as though we had a white elephant on our hands,” Jack said hitching his chair nearer the fire.
“Exactly what I was thinking,” Rex agreed. “We’ve got to decide what to do with Parry. We can’t leave him here to starve to death and I don’t see how we can take him with us either. So there we are, betwixt the devil and the deep sea. I tell you,” he whispered, “we must take absolutely no chance of his getting loose. The fat would be in the fire for sure if he did.”
“Well, have you any plan?” Bob asked.
“Not a glimmer, have you?”
“No, I can’t see a way out yet. How about you, Jack?” and Bob looked at his brother.
“Guess I’m about in the same boat as the rest of you,” the boy replied.
“The only thing I’ve thought of so far is for one of us to go to Ashland, I believe that’s the nearest town, and get help while the others stay here and watch him.”
“Well, I’d like to know what’s the matter with that plan?” Rex smiled.
“Ashland is only twelve miles from here and one of us could be back with help tomorrow night easily enough. What do you say, Bob?”