Part 33 (1/2)

We waited, and kept a cold pack on the major.

In about an hour and a half Van came panting back.

”There isn't any wagon,” he gasped. ”n.o.body at the ranch except two women. Men folks have gone and taken the wagon with them.”

That was hard. We skirmished about, and made a litter out of one of our blankets and two pieces of driftwood that we fished from the creek; and carrying the major, with Sally following, we struck the best pace that we could down the trail. He was heavy, and we must stop often to rest ourselves and him; and we changed the cold packs.

At evening we toiled at last into the ranch yard. It had not been three miles: it had been a good long four miles.

CHAPTER XX

A FORTY-MILE RIDE

The ranch was only a small log shack, of two rooms, with corral and sheds and hay-land around it; it wasn't much of a place, but we were glad to get there. Smoke was rising from the stove-pipe chimney. As we drew up, one of the women looked out of the kitchen door, and the other stood in a shed with a milk-pail in her hand. The woman in the doorway was the mother; the other was the daughter. They were regular ranch women, hard workers and quick to be kind in an emergency. This was an emergency, for Major Henry was about worn out.

”Fetch him right in here,” called the mother; and the daughter came hurrying.

We carried him into a sleeping room, and laid him upon the bed there. He had been all grit, up till now; but he quit and let down and lay there with eyes closed, panting.

”What is it?” they asked anxiously.

”He's sick. We think it's appendicitis.”

”Oh, goodness!” they exclaimed. ”What can we give him?”

”Nothing. Where can we get a doctor?”

”The mines is the nearest place, if he's there. That's twenty miles.”

”But a man we met said it was fifteen.”

”You can't follow that trail. It's been washed out. You'll have to take the other trail, around by the head of Cooper Creek.”

”Can we get a saddle-horse here?”

”There are two in the corral; but I don't know as you can catch 'em.

They're used to being roped.”

”We'll rope them.”

The major groaned. He couldn't help it.

”It's all right, old boy,” soothed Fitz. ”We'll have the doctor in a jiffy.”

”Don't bother about me,” gasped the major, without opening his eyes. ”Go on through.”

”You hush,” we all retorted. ”We'll do both: have you fixed up and get through, too.”

The major fidgeted and complained weakly.