from his neck like water off a roof.

They turned back his coat collar to see if there might be a cut on his
neck and there, confronting them, was the little cloth label containing
the name of the clothing store in Quebec. It shocked the scouts to see
that in the very moment of their friend's supreme heroism.

"Blythe? Are you all right? Speak? Stand up, can't you?"

He neither moved nor spoke. He seemed transformed into an iron brace.
Across the calves of his legs lay a heavy timber, which had cut his
trousers and which must almost have crushed his legs when it fell. As
they lifted it blood trickled away. They noticed that he moved both feet
spasmodically as if they had been asleep. There could have been no
circulation there, for the timber across his legs had acted like a great
tourniquet.

He remained immovable, silent, until the scouts had released Roy's foot
and helped him out from under that human roof. That roof, at least, had
not collapsed. Bruised and bleeding as Blythe was, he remained in his
attitude of Herculean resistance as if he had died and become petrified
there.

Then he spoke, his voice weak but tense, "Is he all right?"

"Yes, I'm all right," said Roy; "how about you?"

Blythe did not answer. He drew himself to his feet, reeled, clutched at
Westy who stood nearest, and fell to the ground insensible.

Just at that moment Warde Hollister noticed something, and without
speaking indicated it to one or two others. It was a trifling
coincidence and held his glance and thought for but a second. On an end
of fallen beam which protruded from the wreckage sat a robin with head
cocked sideways watching the stricken, unconscious hero.

It seemed odd that right in that minute of his heroic abandonment, his
companions should be reminded of his villainy and of his gentleness....

CHAPTER XXVI

MR. FERRETT'S TRIUMPH

Roy's injury was but a strained ankle. For a moment he seemed dazed and
unable to realize what had happened. That the whole collapsed roof had
been held above him by superhuman effort of Blythe only dawned on him
when he saw the bleeding, unconscious form of his friend lying clear of
the wreckage, Doc Carson kneeling by him, the others standing silently
about. It did occur to Roy, as odd thoughts do come in tense moments,
how pleased and content Blythe would be could he but know that "Doctor
Cawson" was in attendance. His faith in scout first aid was so great, so
flattering....