CHAPTER XX
OUT ON A HUNT
Frank's announcement seemed to strike a cold chill to the hearts of Nedand Bart. Sickness was something with which they had seldom come incontact, and they did not know how to proceed.
"I suppose we'd better get a doctor," ventured Ned.
"Where?" inquired Frank as he came from the tent. "There isn't onewithin five miles--maybe farther."
"Haven't we any medicine?" asked Bart. "I thought you said you broughtsome along."
"So I did," replied Frank. "Stuff for burns, cuts and stomach aches, butI don't know as it would be safe to give him anything when he has afever."
"Have you got anything for a fever?" inquired Ned.
"Yes, some of those little, white tasteless pills, that come in smallbottles. Homeopathic remedies they call 'em. I'll read the directions."
At that instant Fenn murmured something.
"He's talking!" exclaimed Frank, listening at the flap of the tent.
"Water, mother. Give me a drink of water," spoke the sick boy.
"He thinks he's home," said Ned.
"Here, I'll get him a drink, and you read the directions on that bottleof pills," directed Bart. "Maybe we can give him some."
Fenn drank thirstily of the spring water Bart carried in to him,scarcely opening his eyes, and, when he did, he did not know his chum.
"The smugglers!" exclaimed the now delirious youth. "We'll catch 'em!Don't let Ruth fall into the cave. Look out!"
The boys were much frightened, especially Ned and Bart. Frank, from theexperience he had had with his father, knew a little more than did theothers about cases of illness. He read what it said on the bottle ofpills and decided it would be safe to give Fenn several of the pellets.
"Now, we'd better get the camp in shape for night," said Frank. "We'vegot to stay here until morning, no matter what happens. We can't moveFenn until he's better."
"Maybe he'll not get better," remarked Ned, rather gloomily.
"Oh, cut out such ideas," advised Frank. "He'll be all right. Probablyhis stomach is upset. Now hustle around and get a fire going. I wantsome hot coffee, and so do you. Then we'll all feel better, after a bitof grub."
Once Bart and Ned had something definite to do they did not worry somuch about Fenn. Frank took a look at him, now and then, in the midst ofthe work of making the camp.
"He's asleep," he announced after one inspection. "I think his fever'sgoing down some."
"That's good," commented Bart, his face losing some of its worried look.
The boys ate a hasty supper and then made a more comfortable bed forFenn. The tent was big enough for all four to stretch out under it, butthe three chums decided they would take turns sitting up, in order toadminister to the sick lad.
Frank gave him some more medicine during the night, and, by twelveo'clock, Fenn was somewhat better, though he still had a fever.
It seemed that morning would never come, but, at length, there shonethrough the forest a pale, gray light, that turned to one of rosy hue,and then the golden sunbeams streamed through the trees.
"Thank goodness the night's gone," exclaimed Ned, who had the lastwatch. "It seems as if we'd been here a week, instead of a few hours."
"How is he?" asked Bart of Frank, who had assumed the role of doctor.
"No worse, at any rate," he said, as he felt of his chum's head.
"Do you think we ought to get a physician?"
"I think we'll see how he is to-day," answered Frank. "If he doesn't getany worse I believe it will work off. I'll give him some more medicine."
There must have been some virtue in the pills, for, by noon, Fenn's skinwas much cooler, and he had began to perspire, a sure sign that thefever was broken. His mind, too, was clear.
"What's the matter? What happened?" he asked. "Was I sick?"
"I guess it was a little touch of sun-stroke," replied Frank with alaugh. "How do you feel?"
"Pretty good, only weak. I'm hungry and thirsty."
"That's a good sign. I guess we can fix you up."
Fenn made a fairly good meal on canned chicken and some biscuits whichNed concocted out of a package of prepared flour.
"I think I can get up now," announced the sick youth, as he finished thelast of his meal.
"No you don't!" exclaimed Frank. "I'm the trained nurse in chargeto-day, and you stay in the tent until night, anyhow."
Fenn wanted to disobey, but he found he was weaker than he thought, sohe was glad to stretch out on the blanket, spread over the fragranthemlock boughs. He was so much better by night that the boys werepractically assured he was out of danger. They felt correspondinglyhappy, and prepared as fine a meal as they could in celebration of theevent.
Fenn ate sparingly, however, and then fell off into a sound, healthfulsleep. His three comrades took turns during the night watch, but therewas nothing for them to do, save, now and then, to replenish the campfire.
The next day Fenn was so much better that he insisted on getting up, buthe did not have much ambition to do things.
"We'll go hunting, as soon as you are able," announced Frank, afterbreakfast. "Our pantry isn't very well stocked."
"Don't wait for me," urged Fenn. "Go ahead. I can stay in camp, and lookafter things while you three are gone. I'll take my turn at hunting alittle later."
At first the boys would not hear of this, but, after Fenn pointed outthat they must have stuff to eat, they agreed to go hunting the nextday, leaving him alone in camp, if it was found, by morning, that he waswell enough.
Fortunately this proved to be the case and Ned, Frank and Bart, carryingthe guns they had hired in Duluth, started off, cautioning Fenn to takecare of himself, and not to wander away from the tent.
"We'll be back as soon as we have shot something to eat," promised Bart.
It was rather lonesome in camp for Fenn, after his chums had left. Atfirst he sat in front of the tent, watching the antics of some squirrelswho, emboldened by hunger, came quite close to pick up crumbs. Fennscorned to shoot at them.
"I think I'm strong enough to take a little walk," decided the youth,after an hour or so of idleness. "It will do me good. Besides, I want toget a line on just where that cliff is, on which we saw the queer men."
He started off, and found he had regained nearly all his former strength.It was a fine day, and pleasant to stroll through the woods.
Fenn wandered on, aiming for the lake, which was some distance away fromwhere the tent was pitched. Suddenly, as he was going through a littleglade, he heard a noise on the farther side of the clearing, as thoughsome one had stepped on, and broken, a tree branch. Looking quickly uphe saw, half screened by a clump of bushes, two Chinamen, and a whiteman.
The odd trio, whose advance had alarmed Fenn, stopped short. Then one ofthe Celestials muttered some lingo to the other. An instant later thethree drew back in the bushes, and Fenn could hear them hurrying away.
"I'm on the track of the smugglers!" he exclaimed. "I'm going to followthem and see where they go! I must be nearer the cliff than I thought."
Off Fenn started, after the three men. If he had known what lay beforehim he would have hesitated a long time before doing what he did. ButFenn did not know.