Part 12 (1/2)

”He has a bruised ankle, and some cuts on his head.”

”I see. Well, bring him in, and what remedies I have on hand shall be at his service. I'm a bit sick myself--been making some experiments with nitrogen that didn't agree with me. You see, I reasoned out that if nitrogen could be dissolved by means of----”

”Where can I place the gentleman?” broke in Chet, who knew Upham Jeffer's weakness for going off into scientific discussions.

”Oh, yes, of course, I forgot. Why, place him anywhere. Make yourselves at home.” The old scientist looked around rather helplessly. ”There is my medicine closet. Use whatever you can find there.”

He was really a fine old man, but so wrapped up in his scientific experiments that he paid little attention to the world at large, or what was going on around him. He was very learned, but apt to be forgetful to the last degree. He lived alone, and it was reported that he had a goodly sum in the bank. Certainly he never seemed to want for funds, although his mode of living was far from extravagant.

Barwell Dawson was placed in an easy-chair in the living apartment, and the professor busied himself in getting out some medicine and a liniment which he said would do much good.

”Shall I start up the fire?” asked Andy, who saw that the blaze had been allowed to die down.

”Why, yes, of course! I forgot all about the fire,” answered Upham Jeffer. ”You see, when I get interested in my experiments, I usually----”

And then he stopped talking, being busy measuring some medicine in a gla.s.s.

Andy stirred up the fire, and brought in some wood from a pile in a near-by shed. In the meantime Chet introduced Barwell Dawson to the old scientist.

”Why, I know you, sir!” cried Mr. Dawson, as he looked closely at the professor. ”Weren't you once up north--with the Welber Exploring Expedition?”

”Why, yes, of course!” answered Professor Jeffer. ”And you--it seems to me your face looks familiar. Why, yes, I have it now! You were up there at the same time, on a hunting trip.”

”You've struck it. I am glad to meet you again, Professor Jeffer.”

”I have forgotten your name, Mr.----”

”Dawson--Barwell Dawson.”

”Ah, yes, of course! I remember it well now! Strange how I should forget. But you know I am so wrapped up in my experiments that I--but let us stop talking and attend to this ankle of yours. We'll wash it well with hot water, and pour on this liniment, and the swelling will soon go down. You see, the curative qualities of witch hazel, when combined with wintergreen and----” And then the professor stopped and went to work.

Inside of half an hour Barwell Dawson's hurts had all been attended to, and he felt much better. The cuts on his head had stopped bleeding, and he insisted upon having the bandages removed.

”I'm not such a baby as you think,” he said. ”I'll be all right by tomorrow, watch and see. All I want is a good smoke to cure me,” and he lit his briar-root pipe.

”I'll be glad to hear it,” answered Andy.

”Nevertheless, don't imagine that I don't appreciate what you two lads have done for me,” went on Mr. Dawson, earnestly. ”It was a fine thing to do, and I'll not forget it in a hurry.”

It had begun to snow again, and all three were glad that they had exchanged the temporary shelter in the woods for the large and comfortable cabin of the old professor. The cabin was well furnished, and on the walls hung horns and skins of various wild animals. There were a good-sized table and some chairs, and in one corner stood a bookcase with a hundred volumes or more. Opening out of the living room were a kitchen and two bedrooms. It was in the kitchen that Professor Jeffer had been conducting the experiments which had made him ill. A powerful odor filled the air of the apartment, and to get rid of it, Chet opened a window for a while.

”I should have had something open when I tried the experiment,” said the professor. ”But I became so interested that I forgot. If you hadn't come when you did, I don't know what would have happened.”

”You want to be careful in the future, Professor,” said Barwell Dawson.

”Science cannot afford to lose a man like you.” And this latter remark tickled the old scientist very much. He was really quite learned, and he was glad to have it known.

”If this snow keeps on, we'll have to stay here all night,” said Andy to Chet.

”You are welcome to remain as long as the storm lasts,” answered Professor Jeffer, who overheard the remark. ”I have a well-filled larder, and with what you have brought we can get along very well.”

”We have a moose about a mile from here--if only we could bring him here,” said Chet.