Page:Hugh Pendexter--The young timber-cruisers.djvu/232

 and take our time to-morrer in coming back here fer the remains. Bub will—”

“But Bub doesn’t,” grinned that individual. “Why! Stanley, he cleared eighteen feet at every jump in hiking back here to find you.”

“Wal, we both was a-coming some,” grinned Abner, now openly patting Stanley’s hand. “'But, tell us, younker, how the varmint came to jump ye? If I’d thought he was to find ye I’d stuck along and took a chance.”

Stanley then recited the incidents of his slumber and awakening and of his terror in finding Nick’s moccasins near his face.

“Then I remembered how you threw a stone to one side and got him to shoot in the direction of the sound and I did the same trick with my pencil. The minute he fired I let out a yell—and I was awfully scared I am free to admit—and letting out a horrible yell I dashed at him and struck him over the head with the club. It seemed a cold-blooded thing to do, but it was that or nothing. He went back into the bushes as if he’d been hit with an axe, but I didn’t have sense enough to try for his rifle. I think I must have been a bit crazy, for the next thing I know I was running like mad trying to stop screaming. I don’t know how long or how far I raced before realizing what was the matter.