Part 36 (1/2)
”d.i.c.k!” he called, as loudly as he could. ”d.i.c.k, are you anywhere around?”
”Sam!” came the faint reply. ”Is that you? Yes, I am over here. Help me. I am wedged in between the trees and can't move!”
”Is Tom down here too?”
”I don't know.”
CHAPTER XXIV
IN WHICH TOM IS FOUND
Guided by his brother's voice Sam at last found d.i.c.k. As the latter had said, he was wedged between two tall trees and in anything but a comfortable position. And how to release him was a problem.
”I guess I had better climb up and bend one of the trees over by my weight,” suggested Sam. ”I don't see any other way.”
”All right, Sam. Only be careful and don't fall and let the tree snap back on me,” answered d.i.c.k, weakly. In his cramped position he could scarcely breathe.
With great care Sam ascended the slimmest of the two trees, pus.h.i.+ng it as far away from the other as possible. As he went up his weight told, and presently the tree commenced to bend down, away from the other.
”That's better--now I can move a little,” cried d.i.c.k. ”Go on! There, that's enough. All right, Sam, you can come down.” And then d.i.c.k scrambled out in the snow and his brother joined him.
”Did you see anything at all of Tom?” asked the youngest Rover, as soon as both could get their breath.
”Not a thing, Sam. But I saw the tree that fell--it's caught on the cliff above here.”
”Yes, I saw that--just before I took a tumble.”
”Then you fell too?”
”Only from the last cliff. I landed in a tree and then some bushes, and got pretty well scratched. But come on, if you're able, and we'll look for Tom.”
”What's that bundle you have strapped to your back?”
”I brought a little food along, in case we had to stay down here until to-morrow.”
”I see. Wait, we'll light a torch first--we can't do much in the dark.”
Dry brushwood was to be had in plenty, and the boys not only lit torches, but also made a fire, to light up the scene all around them Then they set off on their hunt, going up and down the base of the cliff for several hundred feet. It was now snowing so furiously that progress was difficult.
”We'll be snowed in, that's certain,” remarked Sam, as they moved about, swinging their torches to the right and left.
”I don't care--if only we find Tom, and he isn't seriously hurt,”
returned his brother.
”But it's no fool of a thing, to be snow-bound in Alaska, d.i.c.k! I've heard of miners being starved to death--not being able to get anywhere for food!”
”Yes, I've heard of that, too. But do you want to give up this hunt for Tom?”
”Indeed not! I'll stick it out no matter what comes!” answered Sam, quickly.