e in which to cool off when they suddenly heard a groan. It
was quite loud, and seemed to come from near the bridge. Then a voice
called:

"Water! Oh, some one get me a drink of water!"

CHAPTER XXIII

THE BOYS' WELL

"Did you hear that?" asked Russ of Laddie, as they stared about them.

"Course I heard it."

"What did it sound like?"

"Like the ghost at Great Hedge," said Laddie.

"Yes," agreed Russ, "that's what it did sound like--a sort of groan. But
there can't be any ghost here."

"Course not. But what was it?"

Laddie and Russ looked across the bridge, but could see no one on the
other side.

Then the groan sounded again, quite near them, and the voice again
called:

"Water! Water!"

"Somebody wants a drink," said Laddie.

"But who is it?" asked Russ. "I don't see anybody."

"It sounds like a man," replied Laddie.

"Maybe it's an Indian," said Russ. "But I don't guess Indians would talk
as plain as that. Maybe it's one of Uncle Fred's cowboys, and he fell
off his horse and is hurt."

"Oh, maybe 'tis!" exclaimed Laddie. "But if it's a strange cowboy we
must ride right home. Mother said so."

"We got to get him a drink first," decided Russ. "You always have to do
that. You have to do that even to an enemy, 'cause we learned that in
Sunday-school. Let's see if we can find who 'tis wants a drink."

Suddenly the voice called again, so loudly and so close to them that
Russ and Laddie both jumped when they heard it.

"Whoever you are, please get me some water!" said the voice. "I'm a
cowboy and I've fallen off my horse and broken my leg."

"Where--where are you?" asked Russ, looking about.

"In the tall grass, right at the end of the bridge. I can see you boys,
but you can't see me because I'm hidden in the grass. I was going to
ride over the bridge, but my pony slipped and threw me and I've been
here some time with a broken leg. Get me a drink if you can."

Russ and Laddie looked at each other. Then they looked toward the end of
the bridge, where the voice sounded, and they saw the long grass moving.

"He must be in there," said Laddie, pointing.

"He is," answered Russ. "Here, you hold Star and I'll get him a drink,"
and Russ slipped off his pony, taking off the cap he wore. Russ had an
idea he could carry some water to the cowboy in the cap, and in this he
was right.

Going down to the edge of the creek, at one side of the bridge, Russ
dented in the outside top of his cap, an