Part 19 (1/2)

CHAPTER XV

FRANK TURNS CHAUFFEUR

”Don't you want your gun?” asked Bones, in a low voice, that showed some trace of excitement; for, truth to tell, Bones was inclined to be suspicious by nature, and there had been stories told lately throughout that section, of raids by thieving tramps.

Possibly that may have been one reason why Bones was so desirous of having company on this little excursion up to the farm to try his new gun.

”What for?” asked Frank, surprised, as he dropped out of the vehicle.

”Oh! there's no telling. This may be just a trap to stop any travelers and make them hand over. It's been done before. I'd hate to lose my double-barrel the first thing.”

He was groping under the seat for the aforesaid article at that very moment, as though he would feel safer with it in his hands.

But Frank laughed scornfully.

”Don't you believe it, Bones. Ten to one this is some vehicle that has left the road and gone into the ditch. I'm only afraid I may find the driver badly hurt in being thrown out, that's all.”

He left the buggy as he spoke, and walked hastily forward toward the dark object that seemed to be half on the road and partly among the trees. ”Why, it looks like an automobile,” said Frank to himself, as he came closer; and five seconds later he added positively, ”That's just what it is. I wonder what's happened now?”

He soon knew. Upon reaching the scene he found that the car must have suddenly swerved from the road and struck a tree, head on. It could not have been going at a very rapid pace at the time, for although some damage had been done to the hood, and one of the lamps seemed to be smashed, the machine did not appear badly damaged.

Some one was grunting close by, and as Frank drew near he saw a figure crawling out from the bushes.

”What's happened here?” he asked, promptly.

The figure of a man started up, and as Frank struck a match he saw that the other seemed to be decently dressed, although his clothes were somewhat torn after his headlong flight in among the bushes.

”We had an accident,” muttered the man, staring hard at him; and Frank thought with a look not unlike suspicion on his scratched face.

”I see you had,” returned Frank, at the same time noting almost unconsciously from the way the machine headed they must have been coming away from Columbia at the time; ”but you speak as if there might be another party along with you. Did he get tossed out too when you hit the tree?”

”I don't know. I wasn't seeing anything just then but a million stars. He don't seem to be in the car, does he?” ventured the other, who was rubbing himself all over as if trying to ascertain whether any ribs, or other bones, had been broken in his rough experience.

”Then he must be in the bushes, the same as you, though it's a miracle how he went out, being behind the steering wheel; and also how he missed hitting this tree. Fortunately it happens to be a small one. Let's look and see.”

As he spoke Frank lit another match and started to examine the bushes alongside the stranded car and beyond. By the time he had used three matches success rewarded his efforts, for they found the man.

”He's dead!” exclaimed the stranger, in horrified tones.

”Oh! perhaps not. He may only have fainted from the shock,” and lying down, the boy put his head down close to the chest of the motionless man.

”His heart is beating and that proves he is alive. Take hold here and we'll carry him to the car. Perhaps he'll come to his senses when I dash a little water in his face. Lift his heels and I'll look after his head,” and Frank took hold of the broad shoulders as he spoke.

In this fas.h.i.+on they managed to move the unconscious man to the road. He was laid down alongside the car. Meanwhile, the other two boys had come up, Bones urging the frightened horse along with the whip.

”What is it, Frank?” asked Ralph, jumping out.

”Been an accident; a car rammed a tree. Both pa.s.sengers thrown out, and one of them is injured; Anyhow he seems to have been knocked senseless. I'm going to get a little water in my cap and try to bring him to,” with which Frank darted to the other side of the road, where his quick ear caught the trickling sound of a small stream gurgling among mossy stones.

He was back in less than a minute, and immediately started splas.h.i.+ng some of the water in the face of the unconscious man.