d man.

"I can stand anything but continued suspense," the other declared,
bravely.

They could see that he had to shut his teeth tightly together in order
to keep back his groans while they were lifting him as gently as they
could. But despite his white face the man tried to smile at Phil when he
saw the look of pity on the boy's face.

"Don't mind me--I'm all right--you're doing famously--I'll never, never
forget it, either!" he said, between breaths.

Phil took one end, that nearer the patient's feet, while the other boys
managed the second pair of handles between them. The stretcher had been
made purposely narrow at the foot, so that one bearer could handle it.

"If you get tired, sing out, Phil, and we'll change all around," X-Ray
remarked.

It was not hard work after all. The man happened to be of medium weight,
and not unusually tall, so with only two short resting spells they
carried their burden all the way to the shore of the lake.

How eagerly he leaned over one side of the stretcher, and strove to
catch a first glimpse of his child, over whose fate he had been almost
losing his mind while lying there, wounded so grievously in the pine
woods.

Lub heard them coming. He stared almost stupidly at first, hardly
understanding what it was they were carrying. Perhaps Lub even thought
it might be that pugnacious half-grown bear cub, which had attacked Phil
in the forest and suffered in consequence.

He quickly understood differently, however. There was a flutter near
him, a swift patter of childish feet flying over the ground, a gasping
cry, and then little Mazie was clasped in the eager arms of the man on
the litter. Regardless of the pain his exertions were causing him the
father pressed his darling to his heart, while a look of supreme joy
came upon his white face.

Then Phil had to bend over and unwind the arms of Mazie from the neck of
"daddy," for he suddenly discovered that what with his emotions and the
agony of his broken limb the man had fainted dead away.

CHAPTER XIV

THE PUZZLE OF IT ALL

"What d'ye make out of it all, Phil?"

When Ethan asked this question two days had elapsed since they brought
the wounded man to the cabin. Much had happened during this time. In the
first place Phil had proven himself a splendid amateur surgeon, for he
had set the broken bones, and attended to securing splices so that they
would be kept in proper position while the mending process continued.