outs had scrambled down the bank, much
ashamed of themselves for their recent fear. They were now most
anxious to do all they could to assist the captain. They soon learned
that he was unable to walk, for in addition to his injured knee he had
sprained his ankle. He tried to take a few steps in order to show the
boys that he was not much hurt. But this was more than he could
endure, and he gave a deep groan of pain as he sank down upon the
ground.

"It's nothin', lads," he growled, somewhat annoyed at the accident.
"Yez better go home and git a team to take the bear out. I'll stay and
keep him company till yez come back. He might be jist fooling and will
sneak off into the woods. We can't afford to run any risk."

"We'll not leave you, captain," Rod stoutly protested. "You're soaked
with water, and you'll get a bad cold if you stay here. We'll carry
you home."

"Carry me!" the captain exclaimed in surprise. "Yez couldn't tote a
heavy log like me all that distance."

"We're going to try, anyway. We're scouts, remember, and you have
often told us what to do in a case like this. I guess the bear will be
all right. He looks quiet enough now."

There was nothing for the captain to do but to submit, and though he
growled somewhat at what he called their foolishness, yet he was
pleased at their interest on his behalf.

The boys at once set to work to prepare a stretcher for their wounded
scoutmaster. With a scout axe, Rod cut down several small maples,
trimmed off the leaves, and cut them the necessary length. He then
asked the captain for his coat, as it was the largest they could get.
Through the sleeves of this they ran two of the poles, which thus
formed one end of the stretcher. Then taking off their own coats they
did the same to the other end. It took five of theirs to equal the
captain's, and even then they were afraid that all combined would not
bear the man's weight. In addition to the coats, the scouts fastened
their leather belts together, and stretched these between the poles for
greater support.

The captain was greatly pleased at the speedy way in which the boys did
this work. But he had his doubts about their being able to carry him
home. He weighed about one hundred and seventy pounds, which would
mean over forty pounds to each of the four scouts who would take their
turn at the stretcher. Rod thought of this and a new idea came
suddenly into his mind. Picking up two of the other