Part 14 (1/2)

Alf turned questioningly to the Scotsman

”Get to work and break off as is, you've got your toht poplars I'll give a hand to the laddie”

It was not long before the sharp axe had laid prone a nu poplars and partly lopped them, while Mackintosh and Alf had torn down a number of maple and other leafy branches that would lie fairly flat

These were gathered to the edge of the

”You're no' feared to take a bit o' risk for your friend's sake?” thea look of confidence to the boy

”Afraid?” echoed Alf conteive my life for Bob!”

”That's as it should be,” returned Mackintosh approvingly ”'Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend' I would offer to do this is is no' ht as a feather compared with us Noe'll put two o' these poles like the sides o' a ladder; then soo out and build farther as we hand them to you Can you do this?”

”Of course,” replied Alf firmly

”And don't hurry Work sure and steady The turf will stand the weight with only you on it And when you reach Bob, you'll spread the branches all round The rest I leave to you”

To Alf it seemed hours before even the first section of the ladder was completed, but he did his best to control his i well the value of Mackintosh's advice; and at last came the moment of joy when he was ready for the second poles to project from the ends of the first ones, and a fresh supply of branches But it was a tedious undertaking at the best, made doubly so by anxiety to reach the end; for each ti material was exhausted he had to creep back for e of thethe work as a starving man feasts his eyes upon the nearness of food and drink

Now and then Alf spoke encouraging words, but he did not relax his energies, nor did the sufferer make answer except once, when he stirred hiht, Alf I can--hold out--for--solanced ahead of him, the cold sweat broke out over his body, for he saw that his chu down the dog as well

”I', Bob! I'll be very soon now!” the lad forced himself to call cheerily

And, oh! the joy of that e was corip his exhausted chum beneath the arms!

”Be careful!” called Mackintosh ”Don't jerk Pull steady!”

Inch by inch Alf felt the mud release its hold upon its prey, as he strained every ounce of strength to drag his friend frorip It was a treht, and the hold of the ht to Bob's by no means slender bulk But at last Arnold's ared so far that he could rest his breast upon the structure

Then Alf paused for breath But he did not delay long He set his teeth and oncewith a triue!

Bannock barked for joy also, and struggled up to scamper back to his master

”Just in the nick of tiratefully, when he recovered a little of his strength after a short rest

Alf's reply was characteristic

”You'll take a deal of washi+ng, old ain!”

The wary to the chilled body, and after a time Bob recovered sufficiently to crawl to safety in the wake of his rescuer

And when solid land was regained poor old Mackintosh was fairly crying with joy