A Young Hero | Page 5

hand and let's run like father calls
double. Let's get to that river we drove to in the car months ago."
"Yes, we might go that way," said the Doctor, thoughtfully. "But why
did you choose that route?"
"Because I want to catch some fish for dinner."
"Without hook or line?"
"I shall go into the shallow, where we can see them, and splash them
out with my hands."

"To be sure, or perhaps spear one with a long, sharp stick."
"Yes, I'll try that. Oh, do let's go on at once. I want to begin."
"Very well," said the Doctor, after a long, anxious look round. "You go
first, and I'll follow."
"Let's walk fast," said Phil.
"Yes, let's walk fast," replied the Doctor.
And they started off along by the wood side, then by hedges and ditches,
and on and on, keeping to the open country and avoiding every farm,
Phil trudging away manfully, while whenever he showed his weariness,
the Doctor picked out some beautiful flowery prairie, or the side of a
pine wood, that they might rest.
But the way was rough and long, and when Phil's enthusiasm had
lasted till far in the afternoon, the sun seemed to beat down hot, and the
poor boy's feet dragged heavily, while much talking had made the
Doctor's voice sound husky, and a great thirst troubled both.
"Getting tired, Phil?"
The little fellow turned--his weary, troubled eyes towards his
questioner, and was about to say, "Oh, so tired and so hungry!" But he
forced himself to say:
"Yes, just a little."
"Ah, and so am I," said the old man, cheerily; "but look yonder!"
"Soldiers!" cried Phil, excitedly.
"No, no, no, my boy; we are free and safe, and out in the open country.
I mean, look at that dark fir wood yonder, and the gleam of sunshine on
water! Let's get there and rest and bathe our feet; and then what do you
say to a nap?"

"Shall we find the fish and make the fire, Dr Martin?" said the boy,
anxiously.
"I hope so," was the reply. "Let's try. Come along. Hang on to my hand;
or, look here, Phil, what do you say to a pig-a-back?"
"Yes," cried the little fellow, holding out his hands eagerly. "No, I won't.
I'm not quite tired, and I'm getting so heavy now. It isn't far, is it?"
"Not very," said the Doctor, rather faintly, and they trudged on and
reached a little stream, which cut its way through the sandy land just at
the very edge of a pine wood, to sink at once upon the bank.
There were no fish visible, but the clear water was delicious, and they
drank long and deeply, before bathing their weary and sore feet.
"What fun!" cried Phil, reviving a little as he buried his feet in the soft,
warm, dry sand and let it trickle between his toes.
But a cloud came over his face directly after, for it was many hours
since anything had passed his lips. There was abundance of dead wood
low down about the trunks of the fir-trees, but no flint and steel or
tinder-box to obtain fire, and the evening was very near.
The Doctor looked far and near, but no farmhouse or settlement was in
sight, and when after a long rest he proposed that they should make a
fresh start and Phil replaced his socks and shoes, he limped when he
stood up, and in spite of a brave effort the tears would come to his eyes.
"Let's rest a little longer," said the Doctor, tenderly, and he led the way
a short distance into what proved to be a vast pine forest, where the
needles that had fallen for ages lay in a thick dry bed. "Let's try here,"
he said, as he raked a hollow beneath the great far-spreading boughs,
which were thick enough to form a shelter from any wind or rain that
might come.
"Lie down, my boy," said the old man, gently, and the little fellow
glanced at him piteously and obeyed.

"Oh, don't look at me so reproachfully, my child," sighed the Doctor to
himself, as the weary boy's eyes looked large and dark in the shade; but
only for a few moments before they grew dull, and then the lids fell and
he was sleeping so soundly that he did not stir when the Doctor raked
the soft sweet-scented pine needles round him till he lay as if it were in
a nest.
And only a few minutes after the Doctor had sunk lower and lower,
drooping over his charge to keep watch, but only to leave that to the
great bright stars which came out one by one, peering down among the
pine boughs at the dark spot