“Do you mean that you are caught in a bear trap?”
“You guessed it.”
“But how in the world did it happen?”
“I imagine I must have stepped on it,” Bob answered dryly.
“I know that,” Jack’s voice came back impatiently. “I didn’t suppose that you climbed up in a tree and stuck your foot in it. What I mean is didn’t you see it?”
“I think not. If I had I doubt if I would have stepped in it.”
“Oh, Bob, I don’t mean to talk like an idiot but honest I’m so scared that I don’t know what I am saying I guess. Now tell me where you are and if you’re badly hurt.”
“No, I don’t think I’m very badly hurt. Of course the trap has got a pretty good hold on my leg but it doesn’t pain me so badly now. In fact I can hardly feel it at all. As to where I am I don’t know of course. I fancy I’m eighteen or twenty miles from where you are and I came directly west. I know I’m not far from the line, but don’t know just how far.”
“All right. You just sit tight and I’ll be there before you know it.”
“Steady son, you couldn’t find me in this darkness to save your soul. You’d only get lost. No, the best way will be to wait till daylight. It’ll only be a few hours now and I can stand it. Remember you can get no sense of direction in these phones so I couldn’t guide you till you got near enough to hear me without the phones.”