He ran around to that point and pulled aside some boards and a broken
window sash.

"Uncle Hiram, are you here?"

"Joe!" came in a low voice, full of pain. The man tried to say more but
could not.

Hauling aside some more boards, Joe now beheld the hermit, lying flat on
his back, with a heavy beam resting on his chest. He was also suffering
from a cut on the forehead and from a broken ankle.

"This is too bad, Uncle Hiram!" he said, in a trembling voice. "I'll get
you out just as soon as I can."

"Be--be careful, Joe--I--I--my ribs must be broken," gasped the hermit.

"I'll be careful," answered the boy, and began to pull aside one board
after another. Then he tugged away at the beam but could not budge it.

"Raise it up Joe--it--is--crushing the life ou--out of me," said the
hermit faintly.

"I'll pry it up," answered the boy, and ran off to get a block of
wood. Then he procured a stout pole and with this raised the heavy beam
several inches.

"Can you crawl out, Uncle Hiram?"

There was no answer, and Joe saw that the man had fainted from