The Outdoor Chums After Big Game eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 167 pages of information about The Outdoor Chums After Big Game.

The Outdoor Chums After Big Game eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 167 pages of information about The Outdoor Chums After Big Game.

“Well, sing out when you want to stop.  We’ll hang you up in a tree, safe and sound, just as I did that wolf I got; and later on one of the boys can come for you with a horse,” was Jerry’s cheerful remark.

“Oh, I’d hate to put you to any additional trouble, so I’ll try my best to limp along,” replied Will, who, of course, was only shamming, in that he was not half so tired as he tried to make out.

So they turned their faces toward the home camp, and started trudging along, now and then calling to one another as something caught their fancy.

Will had had little opportunity to make use of his picture-taking machine this trip.  His stock of films was beginning to run low, and only special subjects must claim his attention from now on.  Besides, he had several views of the great woods, and the light was so poor under the trees that it required a time exposure to bring out the details.

“I think it’s a mean shame none of you fellows think enough of me to get up some sort of excitement, in order to let me snap you off,” he was saying as he tramped along.

“Tell me about that, will you!  The chap really thinks that it’s our duty to do all sorts of remarkable stunts, in order that he may have the pleasure of snapping us off in ridiculous positions!”

“Hear! hear!  That was the finest speech I ever knew Jerry to put up.  As a rule, he leaves the heavy talk to me, and is satisfied to just grunt out his ideas.  But look here, Frank, I believe you were right,” said Bluff, stopping to elevate his nose in a significant fashion.

“Oh! dear me!  Do you smell smoke, too?” demanded Will.

“Why, so do I, now that you mention it.  And say! just cast your eyes back of us, fellows!  Don’t it seem as though there was more or less smoke in the woods over yonder?” asked Jerry.

The four boys now showed sudden animation.

“Hark to the wind, too!  It’s beginning to make a sound up there in the tree-tops.  Which way is it coming, Frank?” asked Will.

Frank’s face began to assume a serious look.  The wind was fairly growing stronger with every passing minute.  If the woods should be afire, this would whip the flames furiously, and send them speeding along at a dangerous pace.

“It begins to look bad for us, boys,” he remarked.

“What!  Do you really mean it, or are you just trying to play a joke?”

“You know me better than that, Will.  There is certainly a brush fire back there.  Some camper has left his fire, and the rising wind has carried it into the dead leaves,” said Frank soberly, surveying his surroundings.

“Could we push forward and put it out before it does any damage?” asked Bluff.

“I’m afraid it’s too late for that now.  See there!  The smoke is getting thicker and thicker all the time.  Boys, we might as well look the matter straight in the face.”

“What do you mean, Frank?” asked Will in a trembling voice.

Copyrights
Project Gutenberg
The Outdoor Chums After Big Game from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.