Part 11 (1/2)
”What's that, Professor?” asked Walter.
”We must send for help, distant as it is.”
”If you will pardon my differing with you, Professor, we have help in plenty right here and a lazy Indian thrown in for good measure,” said Chunky.
The boys laughed and nodded their heads in approval.
”What we need is a rope, not more help. Don't you think so?”
”Yes, yes. I should have put it that way myself only--”
”Why not send the Indian for a rope?” suggested Chunky. ”I would go myself if I knew the way.”
”No, you'd fall in somewhere,” chuckled Ned.
”And the Indian probably would forget to come back,” added Walter.
”Altogether we are in a fix.”
”I think Master Stacy's suggestion is the most practicable of all,”
decided the Professor.
”Yes, but where could you send Eagle-eye?” asked Ned. ”It would take two days for him to ride to Springfield, and that much more time to return. Tad would starve to death before that, wouldn't he?”
”Not hardly. Altogether, the situation has some humor in it. Master Tad is down there with plenty of food, but he cannot get up here. On the other hand we are up here safe, but without food and cannot get down to him.”
”If Tad couldn't get out, he'd be even better off than we then,”
laughed Walter.
”We would all be all right in that event, my boy. Come here, Eagle-eye.”
The Indian obeyed the command lazily.
”We want you to take one of the ponies and ride back to your friend's place as fast as you can. Get a rope, one long enough to reach down into the gully. Don't spare the pony. Get back as quickly as possible.”
”Him no got rope.”
”How do you know? You go just the same and you go in a hurry. Don't you dare to show your face back here unless you bring a rope, sir. If you get back before dark, I shall make you a present of this rifle that you have admired so much--”
”I beg your pardon, that's my gun you are trying to give away,”
objected Stacy.
”Never mind, you shall have another. Don't you think it's worth that much to get Master Tad out of his difficulty quickly?”
”Of course it is. I didn't mean it just that way. Sure, give the lazy Indian my gun, give him anything I have, only do something to make him hurry.”
The Indian's eyes sparkled with antic.i.p.ation. ”You give Indian gun?”
he asked. ”Yes. Me ride um pony like fire from sky.”