Part 62 (1/2)
”Where's the revolver?” shouted Caleb, with unusual excitement.
”I dropped it in the fight.”
”I know. I heard it fall in the bushes,” and Sam soon found it.
Caleb seized it, but Yan said feebly, ”Let me! Let me! It's my fight!”
Caleb surrendered the pistol, said ”Look out for the Dog!” and Yan crawled through the bushes till that dark moving form was seen again.
Another shot and another. The sound of combat died away, and the Indians raised a yell of triumph--all but Little Beaver. A giddiness came over him; he trembled and reeled, and sank down on a root. Caleb and Sam came up quickly.
”What's the matter, Yan?”
”I'm sick--I----”
Caleb took his arm. It was wet. A match was struck.
”Hallo, you're bleeding.”
”Yes, he had me--he caught me up the tree. I--I--thought I was a goner.”
All interest was now turned from the dead Lynx to the wounded boy.
”Let's get him to the water.”
”Guess the camp well is the nearest.”
Caleb and Sam took care of Yan, while the others brought the Lynx.
Yan grew better as they moved slowly homeward. He told all about the attack of the Lynx.
”Gos.h.!.+ I'd 'a' been scared out o' my wits,” said Sam.
”Guess I would, too,” added Caleb, to the surprise of the Tribe; ”up there, helpless, with a wounded Lynx--I tell you!”
”Well, I _was_ scared--just as scared as I could be,” admitted Yan.
At camp a blazing fire gave its lurid light. Cold water was handy and Yan's bleeding arm was laid bare. He was shocked and yet secretly delighted to see what a mauling he had got, for his s.h.i.+rt sleeve was soaked with blood, and the wondering words of his friends was sweetest music to his ears.
Caleb and the city boy dressed his wounds, and when washed they did not look so very dreadful.
They were too much excited to sleep for an hour at least, and as they sat about the fire--that they did not need but would not dream of doing without--Yan found no lack of enthusiasm in the circle, and blushed with pleasure to be the hero of the camp. Guy didn't see anything to make so much fuss about, but Caleb said, ”I knowed it; I always knowed you was the stuff, after the night you went to Garney's grave.”
x.x.xI
On the Old Camp Ground
It was threatening to rain again in the morning and the Indians expected to tramp home heavy laden in the wet. But their Medicine Man had a surprise in store. ”I found an old friend not far from here and fixed it up with him to take us all home in his wagon.” They walked out to the edge of the rough land and found a farm wagon with two horses and a driver. They got in, and in little less than a hour were safely back to the dear old camp by the pond.