osh and some of the others had been busily engaged trying to construct
a suitable litter. Fortunately they had learned how this should be
done, for it is one of the duties of every Boy Scout to know this.

With the ax they cut a couple of stout poles about eight feet in
length. These were to constitute the sides, and would form the handles,
each one to be in charge of a scout.

A blanket was arranged across these in such a manner that there would
not be the slightest danger of its slipping, after the two poles had
been held a certain distance apart with a couple of cross-pieces.

When finally the litter was completed it was pronounced first-class by
every one.

"I'm proud of the way you boys grapple with an emergency," said Mr.
Witherspoon, enthusiastically. "You're all a credit to the organization
to which you belong. I mean that your light shall not be kept under a
bushel, for this is an example worthy of being spread abroad, and
copied by other scouts."

The next thing was to lift Walter to the litter, which was done without
giving the poor fellow much pain. He seemed so grateful for every
little thing they did for him, and looked so pitiful lying there that
tender-hearted Billy Button was observed to hurriedly rush away,
pretending that he wanted to wash his hands down at the water, when
they all knew the tears had been welling up in his eyes.

"It's going to be no easy task getting him all the way back to that
house," said Mr. Witherspoon, "especially over such rough ground as
we've struck. Four will be needed to work at a time, and they'll have
to be relieved often, so perhaps we had better all go along save one
scout, who can stay to look after the camp."

"Let Billy stay," said Josh; "he was complaining of a stone bruise on
his heel, and would be better off here than taking that six mile
tramp."

So it was decided that Billy Button should remain in the camp. He did
not look as if he enjoyed the prospect very much.

"No wild animals around here to bother you, Billy," Josh assured him,
when they were prepared to make the start.

"You forget those dogs, I guess," Billy told him; "they must be pretty
mad at us for holding them up. What must I do if they take a notion to
come back and threaten to eat me up?"

"Oh! the easiest thing for you to try," Josh told him, "would be to
shin up this tree here, and wait for us to rescue you. We've hung our
grub up so nothing can get hold of it. But don't worry, Bill