But one thing was plain: the old lumberman thought himself in
danger, and every once in a while he gave out a shout for help.
But his voice was growing weak.
"Hey, Tobe!" yelled Tom. "Why don't you wade ashore?"
"There ye be, at last, hey?" snarled the old man, who was
evidently just as angry as he could be. "Thought ye'd never
come. Hearn them horses rattling their chains, must ha' been for
an hour."
"That's stretching it some," laughed Tom. "That tree hasn't been
toppled over an hour."
"Huh! Ye can't tell me nothin' 'beout that!" declared Toby. "I
was right here when it happened."
"Goodness1" gasped Nan.
"Yep. And lemme tell ye, I only jest 'scaped being knocked down
when she fell."
"My!" murmured Nan again.
"That's how I got inter this muck hole," growled the old
lumberman. "I jumped ter dodge the tree, and landed here."
"Why don't you wade ashore?" demanded Tom again, preparing in a
leisurely manner to cast the old man the end of a line he had
coiled on the timber cart.
"Yah!" snarled Toby. "Why don't Miz' Smith keep pigs? Don't ax
fool questions, Tommy, but gimme holt on that rope. I'm afraid
ter let go the branch, for I'll sink, and if I try ter pull
myself up by it, the whole blamed tree'll come down onter me.
Pages:
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218