From time to time fresh water was applied to the wad
of flannel round Jerry’s head.
“Is there any chance, do you think, of finding
poor Sam’s body?”
The chief shook his head. “No shores where
it could be washed up, rocks tear it to pieces; or
if it get in an eddy, might be there for weeks.
No see Sam any more.”
The fire was kept blazing all night, and they took
it by turns to sit beside Jerry and to pour occasionally
a little brandy and water between his lips. As
the men were moving about preparing breakfast the next
morning Jerry suddenly opened his eyes. He looked
at Tom, who was sitting beside him.
“Time to get up?” he asked. “Why
did you not wake me?” And he made an effort
to move. Tom put his hand on him.
“Lie still, Jerry. You have had a knock
on the head, but you are all right now.”
The miner lay quiet. His eyes wandered confusedly
over the figures of the others, who had, when they
heard his voice, gathered round him.
“What in thunder is the matter with me?”
he asked. “What is this thing on my head?
What is the matter with my arm, I don’t seem
able to move it?”
“It is the knock you have had, Jerry,”
Harry said cheerfully. “You have got a
bump upon your head half as big as a cocoa-nut, and
you have damaged your shoulder. You have got
a wet flannel on your head, and the chief has bandaged
your arm. I expect your head will be all right
in a day or two, but I reckon you won’t be able
to use your arm for a bit.”
Jerry lay quiet without speaking for a few minutes,
then he said: “Oh, I remember now; we were
capsized. I had hold of the canoe, and I remember
seeing a rock just ahead. I suppose I knocked
against it.”
“That was it, mate. Hunting Dog let go
his hold and caught you, and managed to get into an
eddy and cling to the rocks till we came down and
took you on board.”
Jerry held out his hand to the Indian. “Thankee,”
he said. “I owe you one, Hunting Dog.
If I ever get the chance you can reckon on me sure,
whatever it is. But where is Sam? Why ain’t
he here?”
“Sam has gone under, mate,” Harry replied.
“That chute you went down was only just wide
enough for the boat to go through, and no doubt he
was knocked off it at the same time as you were; but
as the Indian was on your side, he saw nothing of
Sam. I reckon he sank at once, just as you would
have done if Hunting Dog hadn’t been behind you.”
Jerry made no reply, but as he lay still, with his
eyes closed, some big tears made their way through
the lids and rolled down his bronzed face. The
others thought it best to leave him by himself, and
continued their preparations for breakfast.
BACK TO DENVER
“When are you going to make a start again?”
Jerry asked, after drinking a, pannikin of tea.
“We are not going on to-day; perhaps not to-morrow.
It will depend on how you get on.”
