“Tom, Tom,” he cried, shaking his friend fiercely, “they’ve come, they’ve come! Do you hear them?” and he called out in as loud a voice as he could again and again.
When Tom came to himself, he added his shouts to Jack’s and they finally succeeded in making themselves heard by the straining workers outside. With glad cries of encouragement, the Scouts went to work once more with redoubled energy. In five minutes, that seemed like five ages to the gasping boys inside, a tiny place was cleared before the entrance of the cave, letting in a breath of cool, fresh air. In another half hour the cave mouth was entirely free and the two half-smothered boys were helped out by their anxious friends. With a sharp cry Tom clapped his hands over his eyes to keep out the dazzling light.
The Scouts crowded eagerly about the two boys, scarcely able to restrain their delight. They patted them all over to see if there were any broken bones, shook their hands and overwhelmed them with questions.
Then it was Don’s turn. Limping from the wound in his foot, he came slowly over the pile of dirt and stones and looked wistfully up into his master’s face.
“Don, darling old Don!” Jack cried, hiding his face in the dog’s rough coat. “Then they didn’t hurt you, beauty, did they?”
Then the boys learned all that Don had done for them, and if they had loved him before, they idolized him now.
Of course Jack and Tom were too exhausted by their nerve-racking experience to continue their journey to the lumber camp, so Mr. Durland chose Dick in their place, and with the good wishes of the boys, he started off through the trees.
On the way home, the boys could not hold their wild spirits in check. They chased rabbits and squirrels, shouted to each other, played leapfrog and sang rollicking college songs. Only Don walked soberly along beside Jack, too happy to leave his master’s side, and his eyes alone told a story more eloquent than words.
CHAPTER IX
DICK CRAWFORD GIVES WARNING
It was an ideal summer day, and Dick Crawford, going through the woods toward the logging camp, could not help thinking what a lucky fellow he was.