Motor Boat Boys on the Great Lakes; or, Exploring the Mystic Isle of Mackinac. Louis Arundel
I object to bulldogs just as much. Little fellows are all right, likewise pussy cats; but deliver me from the kind that hold on to all they grab. Nixey. You and Jack try it this time, George.”
“That’s only fair,” spoke up the latter, immediately.
“Well,” said George, “if we’re going, the sooner we start the better; because you see the old sun is hanging right over the horizon.”
“And I’m nearly caved in for want of proper nourishment,” grumbled Nick.
No one paid any particular attention to his remark; because that condition was a regular part of his lamentations several times a day. The only time Nick seemed to be in a state of absolute contentment was the half hour following a gorging bee; and then he beamed satisfaction.
Accordingly the pair started forth, armed with a tin bucket for the milk. George had no great love for biting dogs himself, and as they approached the vicinity of the farm buildings he suggested to his companion that they arm themselves with stout canes, with which they might defend themselves in case of an emergency.
“Looks like a prosperous place, all right,” Jack observed as they saw the buildings and the neat appearance of things in general.
“But seems to me it’s awful lonely here,” remarked George. “Where can the people all be? Don’t see any children about, or women folks. Plenty of cows and chickens, but sure they can’t take care of themselves.”
“Well, hardly,” laughed Jack. “We’ll run across somebody soon. Let’s head for the barn first. Generally at this time you’ll find the men busy there, taking care of the horses, and the pigs.”
“I hear hogs grunting,” remarked George.
“Well, I got the same sound myself; but do you know it struck me more like a groan!” Jack said, in a voice somewhat awed.
“A groan! Gee; what do you mean, Jack?” exclaimed the other, turning toward his chum with a white face.
“Just what I said,” Jack replied. “And listen, there it is again. Now I know it was no swine you heard, George. That sound was from the barn. Come on. I’m afraid somebody’s in trouble here!”
CHAPTER VI
“CARRY THE NEWS TO ANDY!”
“Nobody here, Jack!” announced George, in a relieved tone, as the two entered the stable, and looked around.
A number of horses stood in stalls, munching their oats, which in itself told the observing Jack that some one must have been there a short time before, since the animals had been recently fed.
Before he could make any reply to his companion’s remark, once more that thrilling sound came to their ears. And this time even George realized that it was unmistakably a human groan.
“It came from over here!” exclaimed Jack, as without the slightest hesitation he sprang across the floor of the place.
George following close upon his heels, saw him bending over the figure of a man, who was lying upon the floor in a doubled-up position.
“What has happened? Did one of the horses kick him?” gasped George, always a bundle of nerves.
“No, I don’t think so,” replied Jack. “I can find no sign of an injury about him. It’s more likely a fit of some kind he’s just recovering from. Lots of people are subject to such things, you know.”
“Say, that’s just what;” declared George. “I had an uncle who used to drop like a rock right in the street or anywhere.”
“What did they do with him at such times?” demanded Jack, anxiously.
“Well, nobody seemed able to do much,” replied the other. “I saw my father loosen the collar of his shirt, and lay him out on his back. A little water on his face might help; but in most fits it takes some time to recover. But I thought I saw his eyelids twitch right then, Jack.”
“Yes, he’s going to come out of it,” replied Jack, as he managed to get the old man into what seemed like a more comfortable position.
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