. I happen to own a patch of ground bordering on Lake Surprise,
and that birch bark lodge is on it."

The man muttered something to himself, and Phil thought he caught the
one word "fool." Perhaps he was taking himself to task for acting so on
impulse when first discovering the coming of the strangers, whom he must
have believed were persons whom he had reason to distrust.

All that could be left until later for discussion among himself and his
three chums; Phil felt that his present business was to succor the
wounded man.

He found that there was a compound fracture of the bones of the lower
limb, not far from the ankle. The man must have caught his foot somehow,
and pitched forward heavily.

"Once we get you to the cabin, sir, and I'm sure I can set the bones,
and ease your pain greatly," he told the other, presently.

"That satisfies me," the man remarked, closing his lips as though he
felt that he could stand anything, now that Mazie was safe. "Please make
all the haste you possibly can. Minutes will seem like hours to me until
I feel her dear little arms around my neck."

"First I must get you a drink," Phil told him; and without waiting to
see or hear anything more he darted off, all his own weariness utterly
forgotten in this one desire to render first aid to the wounded.

He had no trouble doubling on his own trail, and thus finding the
spring. Since there was no other means for carrying water Phil dipped
his hat in, and was soon back alongside the injured man, who drank
greedily of the cold fluid, and seemed greatly refreshed in consequence.

"Now I'll run in the direction of the cabin," Phil observed, after he
had in this fashion relieved the pressing needs of the other.

"Are you sure you can find me again?" asked the man, anxiously. "If you
are in doubt call out, and I'll try to answer. I heard shouts a little
while back, but my throat was too dry for me to make a sound above a
groan."

"You heard me having a little circus with an angry bull moose that had
me backed up behind a tree," Phil told him; "but never fear about my
being able to come straight here. I'm woodsman enough for that, and take
my bearings as I go. Look for us to come inside of an hour, sir."

With that he was off on a run. Just as he had said with such assurance,
he had his bearings, and knew just which way to go in order to reach
home. Before twenty minutes had elapsed Phil burst upon those comrades
who were clustered in front