The Outdoor Chums After Big Game | Page 5

that little Joe the glad
hand down South," observed Jerry, joining in with enthusiasm.
"Yes, but there are a few rescues you seem to forget, Jerry. How about
that time when the wild dogs had you chasing around the tree?" asked
Bluff, grinning.
"Oh, that isn't in the same class. You forget that I got out of that scrape
by my own exertions," replied the other.
"But there was another time when we hauled you out of a hollow tree in
which you found yourself caged. You didn't crawl out of there alone
and unaided, if I remember right," persisted Will.
"Some things are better buried in oblivion. You and your camera want
to remind a fellow constantly of events that ought to be forgotten. But

Frank, that must have been an owl you heard. I haven't caught any call
for help yet."
"Perhaps we'd better go on, then. Look out how you mount here, for it's
a hard proposition, Jerry, with these roots and stones."
Frank had just started to move forward with his own motorcycle, when
all of them heard a sound issuing from the woods alongside the "tote"
road.
"Help! help!"
They looked at each other.
"Somebody's in trouble there. Who can it be?" said Frank as he leaned
his machine up against a tree, as though eager to hasten to the
assistance of the one who had cried out.
"No hunters around at this time of year," remarked Will as he followed
suit.
"And the loggers have been gone some months," went on Bluff.
"Tell me about that, now! It wasn't a child's voice, or I might think a
kid had got lost up here. Perhaps some man has cut himself badly with
his ax," suggested Jerry.
"Or dropped down into some old abandoned mine shaft," spoke up
Frank, with a wink toward Will; for one of the chums had gone through
with just such an experience during one of their outings, and had to be
rescued.
"Shall we all go?" demanded Bluff, given to caution.
"Why not? Nothing can happen to our machines here. For one, I decline
to stay out of the rescuing party. Besides, perhaps I may get a chance to
snap off a lovely picture of the Good Samaritans at work."
Will had hastily unfastened his camera, and held it in his hands as he

spoke.
"All right, then. Come on, boys!"
With these words, Frank led the way into the woods.
"Sure the sound came from this direction?" asked Bluff.
"That was my impression. What do you say, Jerry?" and Frank turned
to the chum on whose knowledge of woodcraft he felt he could rely.
"Straight in there. You're heading all right, Frank," he replied.
"How far did it seem to be?" went on the leader.
"That is hard to say. The man may have been weakened from loss of
blood. If he was shouting, then it may have been several hundred yards,
perhaps a quarter of a mile off; but I think we'll come across him closer
than that."
"I agree with you, Jerry," said Frank, stopping short.
"What did you hear?" demanded the other, for Frank had bent his head,
and seemed to be listening over his shoulder.
"I don't know. Perhaps it was a bush springing back into place after our
passage. But suppose we shout occasionally? It may encourage the poor
fellow, and besides, guide us to where he lies," returned Frank, once
more pushing on.
Accordingly they lifted up their voices and gave a series of calls.
"Why doesn't he answer us?" asked Will, astonished when only the
echoes came back from the surrounding forest.
Frank stopped in his tracks.
"Can he have fainted from loss of blood?" said Bluff, still having in
mind a picture of a woodsman who had severed an artery by a misblow

of his ax.
"There's Frank listening again, and he seems to be paying more
attention to our rear than ahead," remarked Will, puzzled.
"I bet you he thinks somebody is playing us for a lot of fools; that there
isn't any one hurt, or in need of help at all. What's that?"
The distinct and well-known "popping" of a motor was heard.
"It's a trick, fellows! Somebody is meddling with our machines! Back
to the road!" shouted Jerry, turning and plunging through the
under-brush recklessly.
A wild scramble followed. The four chums were so excited, and filled
with a determination to stop the unknown miscreants from making way
with their machines, that they gave little heed to their steps. The
consequence was that more than once a collision with a tree ensued,
and various bumps afterward gave mute evidence as to the reckless
manner of their chase.
"There's two of 'em!" shrieked Will from the rear, as he caught the
sound of