“And I can see some sort of cabin farther on,” Frank announced.
As they drew nearer it struck them that everything looked deserted. Teddy was the first to voice his dismay.
“I don’t see a whiff of smoke comin’ from the chimbly,” he remarked. “I’m afraid he’s cleared out to town. Whatever will I do now? I just can’t stay here; and, as to gettin’ back to Bill’s place, I’d die on the way.”
They soon saw that the cabin was deserted. No doubt the raiser of skunks had made such arrangements as were possible, so that his pets might exist while he was away.
Frank knew there was only one thing that could be done: the wounded boy must be taken to their camp and looked after, for a short time at least. Later on, if he found he could walk fairly well, he might go back to the other cabin in which the rival hunters were quartered.
“Let’s see if we can find an old ax around,” Frank said.
“What are you meaning to do—break in the locked door?” Jerry inquired.
Teddy looked anxious, and full of curiosity besides.
“There’d be no use in doing that, because Teddy couldn’t stop here all by himself,” Frank explained.
“What do we want an ax for, then?” continued Jerry.