CHAPTER XLVI. 



THE GLIMMER OF A CAMP-KIRK. 



fy4EANWHILE, let us see how Master Dick Brownell made out. I have said 

 V|/ several times that he did an almost inexcusable thing in starting to regain 



* the canvas cover that the gale had whisked from over his head. 



I am quite sure you will agree with me, and yet I am obliged to say that the 

 young fellow, almost at the moment he reached the same conclusion, was successful 

 in finding the missing article. 



Of course it was wholly accidental, but it so came about that while he was mov- 

 ing carefully through the darkness, waiting for a friendly flash of lightning to give 

 its aid, his boot became entangled in something which threw him forward on his 

 face. 



In his efforts to scramble to his feet, he knew from the feel of the article that it 

 was the canvas. 



" Well, I declare ! " he exclaimed, " but that is what I call a piece of luck. I 

 don't think Bob will laugh at me when he sees me coming back bearing the wagon- 

 cover in my arms." 



Bending over, he began gathering the awkward bundle together, finding it so 

 much heavier and more cumbersome than he supposed that his exultation was 

 considerably modified. 



" It would be safe to leave it here till morning," he thought, " but that would 

 never do so here goes ! " 



With no little effort he slung the stuff over his shoulder, and walked some dis- 

 tance without trouble. Then one end began to drag, and, catching under his feet, 

 down he went again, half angry, as was natural. 



He now began rolling the canvas into a more compact form, helped thereat 

 by the friendly flash which saved Bob Marshall's life. Of course Dick did not hear 

 the call of his cousin, and the contrary wind carried the reports of the rifle beyond 

 reach of his ears. Thus he was altogether unaware of the solicitude of Bob, who, 

 but for the lion, would have continued his attempts to find him. 



Dick tried to keep his bearings, though his annoyance from the awkward bundle 

 caused him several times to forget the danger of going astray. But he had walked 

 only a short distance when his foot plunged into an ant-hole, and he was thrown 

 forward with such violence that he feared for the moment his leg was broken. 



" This is a bigger job than I imagined," he said to himself, " but I mean to fight 

 it out on this line if it takes several weeks." 



Up to this moment he had thought nothing of the personal peril involved in a 

 venture of this kind. Had he brought his gun with him he would have found it a 



269 



