"I think we had better try to make some sort of litter of pine boughs,"
answered Jack. "It will be much easier for the four of us to do the
carrying than for one."

"I've got a hatchet in my game bag, and you can cut some pine boughs
with that. And you will find some cord in my game bag, too."

"How did the accident happen, if I may ask?" questioned Randy, while
Jack began to trim several large boughs from the fallen pine.

"It came quicker'n lightning," was the old lumberman's answer. "I had
just spotted a fine, fat rabbit, and was taking aim, when, without
warning, the tree gave a sudden snap like the report of a gun, and down
it came right on top of me. Of course, I tried to jump out of the way,
but my foot caught on a tree root, or a rock, or something, and down I
went, and the next minute the tree came down on top of me, right across
my legs and my left arm, like when you found me. I tried to pull myself
loose, but my legs and my arm seemed to be wedged down between the tree
and some stones, and I couldn't budge nary a one of 'em."

"I guess you can be thankful that you didn't break your arm or your
legs."

"I suppose that's true, my boy. Just the same, I suppose this will lay
me up for a week or two, and maybe longer," answered Barney Stevenson,
dubiously.

Having cut several pine boughs that looked as if they might answer the
purpose, the four boys lost no time in twisting them together and then
tying them into a rude litter. Across this they laid additional pine
boughs, and upon these placed the form of the hurt man. When they moved
him he shut his teeth hard, evidently to keep from crying out with
pain.

"I know it must hurt you, Mr. Stevenson," said Jack kindly. "We'll be
just as careful as possible."

"I know you'll be, my lads. I suppose I ought to have a doctor, but if I
can get to Bill Hobson's cabin, I guess I'll be all right. Bill will
most likely have some liniment, and that will fix me up."

With the old lumberman resting on the litter and the four youths
carrying this as carefully as possible, the party made its way along the
Rick Rack River, which at this point was little better than a mountain
torrent. They had considerable difficulty in climbing over the rocks and
in making their way through the heavy brushwood, but finally they came
out to a cleared space, beyond which there were only scattered patches
of trees.

"I see some smoke!" cried Fred presently.

"That must be the smoke fro