Guns and Snowshoes; Or, the Winter Outing of the Young Hunters Part 18

"It is across the big cove."

"Do you think we can signal to the others?" questioned Whopper.

"We might try it--with some wet wood," answered Shep.

He came down again, and soon they placed several wet sticks on the fire. This created a dense smoke, which, as the wind had fallen, went straight up into the sky.

"That will tell them somebody is over here with a fire," said Shep.

"But I reckon we had better start for the camp without delay. Just past the cliff is a ridge of high ground running almost to the lake, and the wind has swept it clear of snow, so walking will not be so very difficult."

It gave them something of a pang to put out the fire, yet they did not dare to leave it burning, for fear of setting fire to the forest.

Placing the deer on the pole as before, they set off toward the ridge Shep had mentioned.

With the going down of the wind, the air seemed warmer. The sky was still dull and heavy, and they were afraid it might snow again at any moment. Where the footing was good they almost ran, so eager were they to get back to Birch Tree Inn.

They had almost gained the sh.o.r.e of Firefly Lake when Whopper came to a halt. At the same time a distant cry reached the ears of both young hunters.

"What was that?" asked Whopper.

"Somebody calling for help, Whopper. Listen!"

"Help! help!" came faintly to their ears.

"Don't leave me, please! Help!"

"It's some person calling," said Shep. "But where is he?"

Both boys gazed around in perplexity. Then the cry was repeated, and following the sound they made their way to some brushwood growing between several trees. Here they found a man crouched before a tiny fire. He was dressed in a tattered suit and an even more tattered overcoat, and his shoes were bound up in potato sacking. A slouch hat full of holes was drawn down over his forehead, and he looked to be exactly what he was, a tramp.

"What's the matter?" asked Shep, not unkindly, for the fellow was evidently suffering.

"Don't leave me," cried the man. "I'm sick and I'm hungry, and I nearly froze to death last night. Please don't leave me!"

"Have you had anything to eat?" asked Whopper.

"Not a mouthful since yesterday noon. I had some stuff wrapped in a newspaper, but I lost it in the snow." The man did not add that he had been intoxicated and had not known where he was going or what he was doing.

"Well, here is a piece of venison steak and some crackers," said Shep.

"That's all we can give you just now."

"Ain't you got anything to drink?" asked the man, wistfully.

"No, we don't carry liquor."

"Oh!"

"We can get you some water if you want that," put in Whopper.

"What?"

Whopper repeated his words.

"No, I don't want any cold water--I'm cold enough now," said the tramp.

CHAPTER XIII

IN CAMP ONCE MORE

The boys imagined the man was not well and they dropped their game and set to work to get breakfast for him. They took the venison steak and warmed it up, and also warmed the few crackers which still remained from the lunch. The man ate greedily, and then consented to drink a little water.

"Where are you going?" he asked, while eating the last of the venison.

They had found out that, in spite of being a tramp, he was fairly well spoken. Evidently drink had brought him down in the world.

"We are bound for our camp," answered Whopper.

"Oh, so you've got a camp around here?"

"We have one on the other side of the cove--over yonder, where you can see the smoke drifting above the trees."

"I wish you'd take me over to it, boys. I can't stay here--I feel too sick."

"What's the matter with you?"

"I don't know--only I get sharp, shooting pains now and then across my back."

Whopper and Shep looked at each other. They had no desire for the companions.h.i.+p of such a disreputable looking person, yet they did not wish to see the tramp suffer.

"What's your name?" questioned Whopper. "And where do you belong?"

"My real name is Kidlaw Leech, but most of my friends call me Kiddy for short. I came from--er--New York, but I have been up to Fairview and other places looking for work. Yesterday I started to walk to the next town, but I reckon I got lost on the road, and I fetched up here."

"You must have tramped a good distance," answered the doctor's son. He was far from being favorably impressed by the tramp.

"I did," answered Kiddy Leech. "But, say, you'll help me to your camp, won't you?"

"Yes. I have some medicines over there, and one of them may do you good. I'm a doctor's son."

"Got any liquor? That's the best medicine for my back."

"No, but I can give you some peppermint and some ginger."

Again the tramp's face fell. He got up slowly and prepared to accompany the boys. There was nothing more to say, and kicking out the fire, the young hunters told Kiddy Leech to follow them. He came slowly, and caught hold off Shep's arm to steady himself. His breath still smelt of liquor, something that disgusted both lads.

The ice reached, Shep and Whopper cut a long bush and on it placed the deer.