“I’m a-going to,” chattered the lad in return.
He dragged off his coat now, wrung it as dry as he could, and wrapped it around Carolyn May’s legs before he seated her on the sled again. Then he seized the rope once more and started towards the sound of the chapel bell.
How glad he was that the bell still sounded! He was sure of that—and it was the only thing he was sure of.
He could only stagger on, now, for his feet were very heavy, and he felt as though he should fall at any moment. And if he did fall he was quite sure he would not be able to get up again.
Chet knew he could not face Mr. Stagg if anything really bad happened to “Hannah’s Car’lyn.” All his hopes of advancement and ultimate success would be swept away, too, if this adventure ended in tragedy.
Foolish as perhaps the boy’s longings and hopes were, the mark he had set himself to gain was very real, indeed, to Chet Gormley. He hoped some day to see that sign, “Stagg & Gormley,” over the hardware store door. If for no other reason than that, he would not give up now.
The chapel bell tolled on. The sleet beat in his face stingingly. He panted and staggered, but persevered.
“I’ll show him,” murmured Chet. “I won’t give up! Poor little kid—I guess not! I’ll get her home——”
Prince began to bark. He could not move forward much faster than Chet did; but he faced to the right and began to bark with persistence.
“There—there’s something over there, Chet,” murmured Carolyn May. She was all but breathless herself.