he did not seem to have had a very happy life, and in their hearts the boys easily forgave him for what he had done to them.
"Here I am!" exclaimed Mr. Jessup, as, followed by his dog, he came up the path. Over his shoulder he carried a folding stretcher, consisting of two poles with a broad canvass piece in between. On this the hermit could be placed, and, by means of the handles, he could be easily carried.
"I'll give him a little spirits of ammonia first," said the hunter. "That is good when a person has fainted. Then we can decide what next to do. It may be that we'll need a doctor."
He mixed some of the ammonia in a glass, with a little water, and managed to get some between the lips of the old hermit. But it did little good. The aged man only moaned feebly and did not open his eyes.
"I guess we'd better carry him to his cabin," said Mr. Jessup, after a few minutes. "It's farther than it is to Camp Mystery, but if he wakes up, and sees himself in a strange place, it may have a bad effect on him. We can easily carry him to his own cabin."
This they did, the hunter taking one end of the stretcher, and two boys taking turns at the other end. In this way they were soon at the place where the hermit lived.
The cabin was rough enough on the outside, but the interior was clean, and nicely arranged. The poor old man lived very simply. He was placed on his bunk, and then Mr. Jessup, who knew a little about medicine, tried to bring him to his senses.
It seemed to be of no use, however, and finally the hunter said:
"Boys, I think I'd better skate over to the mainland, and bring back a doctor. I wouldn't like poor Mr. Addison to die.
