“Do you have any notion how far away this Old Joe’s place might be?” Frank asked Teddy, thinking that their best plan would be to get the boy there if it could be managed.
“I got an idea it was close by here,” replied Teddy. “He told me after I struck the little ravine on the trail it wasn’t more’n a quarter of a mile off.”
“If you think you can walk a little, with us helping you,” Frank continued, “we might go on and see if we can find the place.”
Jerry was sniffing the air at a lively rate.
“Yes, she’s close by, I give you my word for that,” he announced, as though he believed he was on the right scent.
Teddy seemed anxious to do all he could to help. He was desperately afraid the other boys might conclude to leave him, and as he was next to helpless the prospect alarmed him.
So they moved slowly along. Now and then the boy groaned a little. This was at such times as he happened to give his leg a wrench.
“I hope you’ll stand by me in case he ain’t home,” he ventured. “Joe, he told me he might shut up shop here and go to town for a month, so’s to be treated by a doctor for a trouble he’s got. I’m takin’ big chances in comin’ over without letting him know anything about it.”
“Well, we’re nearly there now,” observed Frank.
“There’s a wire fence!” exclaimed the injured boy. “See how tight it’s made, to keep the skunks from gettin’ away.”