Part 21 (1/2)

”And the water's creeping up fast,” Brad said, gazing anxiously at the pheasant pens which already were beginning to flood.

”A nice mess!” the sportsman muttered. ”Half of my pheasants will be lost if I don't get them out of the fields.”

”Can't we help?” Dan offered.

”Yes, I'll need you and anyone else I can get. This will be a big job.

We've got to work fast to keep ahead of the rising water.”

Smas.h.i.+ng a gla.s.s pane at the rear door of the foreman's dwelling, Mr.

Silverton went inside to telephone.

”I'm trying to round up men,” he explained a few minutes later to Brad and Dan. ”But at best it will take an hour for anyone to get here. And it's an awkward time-close to the dinner hour.”

”All the Cubs would help if I could get word to them,” Dan said eagerly.

”I can use anyone, and I'll pay well for the work. The vital thing is to get help fast.”

”Say, Mr. Hatfield should be showing up at the old logging road exit to relieve us of our stint!” Brad exclaimed. ”Dan, if you could reach him-”

”I'll go after him,” Dan agreed instantly. ”If he isn't there, I'll call him from the filling station.”

”If you cut through the woods, be careful not to be trapped by the flood waters,” Mr. Silverton warned as Dan started away. ”Keep well to the north of the creek.”

Leaving Brad to help the sportsman, Dan set off through the woods at a fast dog trot.

Shadows were deepening among the trees, but he kept his sense of direction. Circling around the flooded area, he struck the logging road at a point well beyond the clogged point of the stream.

To the right he could hear the rush and roar of the torrent which raced toward the river. Unless the log jam gave away or the crest of the flood was soon past, he knew that in a short while the entire side road would be under water.

His shoes and clothing caked with mud, Dan presently came out at the rail fence barrier. A familiar looking car, which had pulled up on the other side of the paved highway, was just starting away.

”That's Mr. Hatfield's automobile!” Dan thought. ”If only I can catch him before he drives away!”

Scrambling over the rail barrier, he shouted the Cub leader's name. In the act of s.h.i.+fting gears, Mr. Hatfield heard the boy and turned his head.

Seeing Dan, he quickly switched off the engine and ran to the fence.

”Where's Brad?” he asked anxiously. ”When the storm broke so suddenly, I came out here as fast as I could. Had a flat tire on the way, which held me up. Is Brad all right?”

”He's with Mr. Silverton,” Dan replied, and poured out his story of Dobbs' disappearance and the threatened flood disaster at the pheasant farm.

”No one there but Brad and Mr. Silverton?”

”That's right, and the water is coming up fast. Mr. Silverton's trying to get men from Webster City, but having no luck. Brad stayed with him to do what he could.”

”Silverton _is_ in a spot,” the Cub leader declared. ”When I saw that log jam in the creek, I was afraid something like this would happen.”

”Mr. Hatfield, do you think the Cubs could help?” Dan asked breathlessly.

”If only we could round them up!”