he bushes abounded
with similar prongs, one of which had been torn off and pierced the
legging of Jack when he was crashing through the tops of the bushes.

"Sure there isn't any mistake about that?" asked the youth, feeling as
if a mountain were lifted from his shoulders.

"There can't be."

"Wait a minute!"

With one bound the happy fellow came to his feet, and throwing his arms
about his comrade, hugged him into temporary breathlessness.

"Thank the Lord! Richard's himself again! The V. W. W. are born to good
fortune."

And joining hands, the two danced with delight. Many in the situation of
Fred Greenwood would have laughed at Jack and "guyed" him over his
blunder, but the incident was too dreadful and the terror of his friend
too intense for Fred to wish to amuse himself at his expense. However,
he could not help indulging just a trifle. Suddenly pausing in his
antics he looked down at the feet of Jack.

"I suppose in a few minutes your ankle will be so swelled that the
buckles will fly off the legging. By this time, too, you must feel the
poison in your head."

By way of answer, Jack, who, like Fred, had laid aside his Winchester
and venison, seized his friend and tried to lay him on his back. They
had had many a wrestling bout at home and there was little difference in
their skill. Fred was always ready for a test, and he responded with
such vigor that before Jack suspected he received an unquestioned fall,
since both shoulders and hips were on the ground at the same time, with
his conqueror holding him motionless.

"It was hardly fair," remarked Fred, allowing him to rise to his feet.

"Why not?" asked Jack, also coming up.

"The venom of the rattlesnake so weakened you that you are not
yourself."

"I'll show you whether I am or not!"

At it they went again, and this time Jack was the victor, after which
they brushed off their clothing and agreed to leave the deciding bout
for a more convenient season. Night was rapidly closing in.

"That exercise has added to my appetite," remarked Jack, as they
gathered up their belongings and moved off.

"It would have done the same for me, if the thing were possible."

Mindful of the danger of going astray, they carefully studied the
landmarks, so far as they could see them. Their main reliance was the
lofty peak that was visible for so great a distance, but with that help
they saw it growing dark, while they were in a region totally strange to
them.