pleased at their interest on his behalf.

The boys at once set to work to prepare a stretcher for their wounded
scoutmaster. With a scout axe, Rod cut down several small maples,
trimmed off the leaves, and cut them the necessary length. He then
asked the captain for his coat, as it was the largest they could get.
Through the sleeves of this they ran two of the poles, which thus
formed one end of the stretcher. Then taking off their own coats they
did the same to the other end. It took five of theirs to equal the
captain's, and even then they were afraid that all combined would not
bear the man's weight. In addition to the coats, the scouts fastened
their leather belts together, and stretched these between the poles for
greater support.

The captain was greatly pleased at the speedy way in which the boys did
this work. But he had his doubts about their being able to carry him
home. He weighed about one hundred and seventy pounds, which would
mean over forty pounds to each of the four scouts who would take their
turn at the stretcher. Rod thought of this and a new idea came
suddenly into his mind. Picking up two of the other maple saplings he
had cut, he placed them crosswise beneath the stretcher, and stationed
a scout at each end. When all was ready, the captain rolled himself
upon the rude contrivance which had been made, and told the boys to go
ahead. At once the eight scouts stooped and without any difficulty
lifted him from the ground. They were delighted to find that not a
sleeve ripped, and not a belt gave way.

It was decided that they should follow the brook down-stream for a
distance until they came to the old winter-road. By doing this they
would escape the thick woods, as well as the climb up the steep bank.