It began to tell on the two boys after a while, but still they stubbornly refused to let Amos or Perk take a hand.
“You’re doing your part, Amos, walking beside the litter, and keeping your father’s mind taken up with all those splendid things,” said Elmer; “because I know we must joggle him sometimes, and every little jolt hurts a sprained ankle. We are getting along all right; and the cabin is close by now.”
“I glimpsed the river through the trees just a minute back, anyhow,” asserted Wee Willie, sturdily.
Amos looked at each in turn affectionately, Perk could see—Perk, who kept hovering alongside the tall chum, hinting again and again that he considered it “mean if they didn’t intend to let him take a turn too.”
“One thing sure, Amos,” said Mr. Codling, warmly; “you’re highly favored in your pals, for they’re the greatest lot of boys I ever ran across!”
CHAPTER XXV
BACK AT THE CABIN AGAIN
“Elmer, you’re sure a wizard when it comes to finding your way through the tall timber!” cried Perk, presently; “because there’s our jolly old cabin dead ahead. Why, you came as straight as a bee could fly to its hive, after loading up with honey.”
“Nothing easier, once you get the hang of it,” laughed Elmer, pleased nevertheless because he had hit it so accurately; while Wee Willie also grinned, as though he considered that he also had occasion to pat himself on the back, seeing that he had fully agreed with Elmer’s deductions in the start.
All of them were delighted to see the cabin again. It may previously have appeared old and dilapidated in their eyes, but just now they forgot all that.
“Me to get a fire going,” roared Wee Willie, after Mr. Codling had been carried carefully into the shelter, and placed on one of the rude “springless beds,” as Perk called the blankets on the floor, under each of which some hemlock browse had been placed so as to make things a bit more comfortable.