were turned inside out, so that the arms were
inside the jackets. Through the arms were thrust the two saplings,
which had been cut sufficiently long to allow them to project a foot and
a half or so beyond the two coats. A blanket was then laid atop the
coats, and the litter was ready.

Dick and Garry took the first turn at carrying, while Phil went ahead
carrying the rifles. Every few moments, the third boy would relieve one
of the others. Frequent rests were necessary, and they were not able to
make much more than a mile an hour, so that it was late afternoon when
they finally reached the outskirts of the town.

"There's my home there, the white house set back in from the street,"
said Everett. "I am afraid you boys are rather tuckered out."

As a matter of fact they were, for the four-mile hike with the burden on
the litter was no mean task.

They had hardly turned in the gate, when a pretty girl of about
seventeen or eighteen rushed out to meet them. When she saw her
grandfather on the stretcher, she turned pale, and in anxious voice
asked what the matter was.

"Don't be alarmed, Ruth, I just had a little accident in the woods and
broke my arm. Otherwise I'm fit as a fiddle. Now don't worry, and hold
the door open for these young men to carry me in and then run over and
get Dr. Mills."

Once in the house, Mr. Everett was laid on a couch and made as
comfortable as possible for the time being.

"This is my granddaughter, Ruth," he told the boys. "In the excitement
of the day, I quite forgot to ask your names, so you will have to
introduce yourselves to her."

This Garry, acting as master of ceremonies, did, and then the girl
hastened after the doctor. She returned with him in a few minutes, and
the physician promptly began his examination.

He confirmed Garry's finding that the leg was not broken, and
complimented him on his neat job of putting on the temporary splint.
Since the break was simple, and the old man protested that a little
twinge of pain was nothing, the arm was immediately set and the
permanent splints set in place.

The chums assisted the doctor to get Mr. Everett to bed, and then bade
him goodbye, promising to look in very soon to see how he was getting
along.

"Don't fail to call on me, boys, if I can be of any service to you,"
were his parting words.

"Well, sir, we may do that very soon," said Garry.

"You'll find that I won't fail you," promised Everett.

As they were on their wa