CHAPTER III
THE RESCUE
"Jack, he's here under all this stuff!" called out Bobolink,excitedly.
"Poor old chap," said Wallace. "I wouldn't like to give much for hischance of getting out of the scrape with his life."
"And to think," added Bluff, soberly, "that after all theprotestations made by the company that the old house couldn't fall, ittrapped one of the big owners when it smashed down. It's mighty queer,it strikes me."
"Keep still again," warned Jack. "I want to call out and see if Mr.Garrity can hear me."
"A bully good scheme, Jack!" asserted Bobolink. "If we can locate himin that way it may save us a heap of hard work dragging these timbersaround."
Jack dropped flat on his face, and, placing his mouth close to thewreckage where it seemed worst, called aloud:
"Hello! Mr. Garrity, can you hear me?"
"Yes! Oh, yes!" came the faint response from somewhere below.
"Are you badly hurt, sir?" continued the scout.
"I don't know--I believe not, but a beam is keeping tons and tons fromfalling on me. I am pinned down here, and can hardly move. Hurry andget some of these timbers off before they fall and crush me!"
Every word came plainly to their ears now. Evidently, Mr. Garrity,understanding that relief was at hand, began to feel new courage. Jackwaited for no more.
"I reckon I've located him, boys," he told the others, "and now we'vegot to get busy."
"Only tell us what to do, Jack," urged Wallace, "and there are plentyof willing hands here for the work, what with these strong men and therest of the boys."
Indeed, already newcomers were arriving, some of them being people whohad been passing along the turnpike near by in wagons or sleighs atthe time the accident happened, and who hastened to the spot in orderto render what assistance they could.
Jack seemed to know just how to go about the work. If he had been inthe house-wrecking business for years he could hardly have improvedupon his system.
"We've got to be careful, you understand, fellows," he told the othersas they labored strenuously to remove the upper timbers from the pile,"because that one timber he mentioned is the key log of the jam. Aslong as it holds he's safe from being crushed. Here, don't try thatbeam yet, men. Take hold of the other one. And Bobolink and Wallace,help me lift this section of shingles from the roof!"
So Jack went on to give clear directions. He did not intend that anynew accident should be laid at their door on account of too muchhaste. Better that the man who was imprisoned under all this wreckageshould remain there a longer period than that he lose his life throughcarelessness. Jack believed in making thorough work of anything heundertook; and this trait marked him as a clever scout.
As others came to add to the number of willing workers the business ofdelving into the wreck of the ice-house proceeded in a satisfactorymanner. Once in a while Jack would call a temporary halt while he gotinto communication with the unfortunate man they were seeking toassist.
"He seems to be all right so far, fellows," was the cheering report hegave after this had happened for the third time; "and I think we'll beable to reach him in a short time now."
"As sure as you're born we will, Jack!" announced Bobolink,triumphantly; "for I can see the big timber he said was acting as abuffer above him. Hey! we've got to be extra careful now, because oneend of that beam is balanced ever so delicately, and if it gets shovedoff its anchorage--good-bye to Mr. Garrity!"
"Yes," came from below the wreckage, "be very careful, please, forit's just as you say."
Jack was more than ever on the alert as the work continued. He watchedevery move that was made, and often warned those who strained andlabored to be more cautious.
"In five minutes or so we ought to be able to get something under thatloose end of the big timber, Jack," suggested Bobolink, presently.
"In less time than that," he was told. "And here's the very prop toslip down through that opening. I think I can reach it right now, ifyou stop the work for a bit."
He pushed the stout post carefully downward, endeavoring to adjust itso that it was bound to catch and hold the timber should the latterbreak away from its frail support at that end. When Bobolink saw himget up from his knees a minute later he did not need to be told thatJack's endeavor had been a success, for the satisfied smile on theother's face told as much.
"Now let the good work go on with a rush!" called out Jack. "Not somuch danger now, because I've put a crimp in that timber's threat tofall. It's securely wedged. Everybody get busy."
Jack led in the work himself, and the way they removed the heavybeams, many of them splintered or broken in the downward rush of thebuilding, was surely a sight worth seeing. At least some of the townpeople who came up just then felt they had good reason to be proud ofthe Banner Boy Scouts, who on other notable occasions had broughtcredit to the community.
"I can see him now!" exclaimed Bobolink; and indeed, only a few moreweighty fragments remained to be lifted off before Jack would be ableto drop down into the cavity and assist the prisoner at closequarters.
Five minutes later the workers managed to release Mr. Garrity, andJack helped him out of his prison. The old gentleman lookedconsiderably the worse for his remarkable experience. There was bloodupon his cheek, and he kept caressing one arm as though it pained himconsiderably.
Still his heart was filled with thanksgiving as he stared around atthe pile of torn timbers, and considered what a marvelous escape hishad been.
"Let me take a look at your arm, sir," said Jack, who feared that ithad been broken, because a beam had pinned the gentleman by his arm tothe ground.
Mr. Garrity, who up to that time had paid very little attention to theBoy Scout movement that had swept over that region of the easterncountry like wildfire, looked at the eager, boyish faces of hisrescuers. It could be seen that he was genuinely affected on noticingthat most of them wore the badges that distinguish scouts the worldover.
"I hope my wrist is not broken, though even that would be a littleprice to pay for my temerity in entering that shaky old building," heventured to say as he allowed Jack to examine his arm.
"I'm glad to tell you, sir," said the boy, quickly, "that it is only abad sprain. At the worst you will be without the use of that hand fora month or two."
"Then I have great reason to be thankful," declared Mr. Garrity,solemnly. "Perhaps this may be intended for a lesson to me. And, tobegin with, I want to say that I believe I owe my very life to youboys. I can never forget it. Others, of course, might have done allthey could to dig me out, but only a long-headed boy, like JackStormways here, would have thought to keep that timber from fallingand crushing me just when escape seemed certain."
He went around shaking hands with each one of the boys, of courseusing his left arm, since the right was disabled for the time being.Jack deftly made a sling out of a red bandana handkerchief, which hefastened around the neck of Mr. Garrity, and then gently placed thebruised hand in this.
"Was any other person injured when the ice-house collapsed?" asked Mr.Garrity, anxiously.
"A couple of girls were struck by some of the big cakes flung far andwide," explained Bobolink. "Little Lucy Stackpole has a broken leg. Wesent her home on a sled, and the doctor will soon be at her house,sir."
"That is too bad!" declared the part owner of the building, frowning."I hoped that the brunt of the accident had fallen on my shouldersalone. Of course, the company will be liable for damages, as well asthe doctor's bill; and I suppose we deserve to be hit pretty hard topay for our stupidity. But I am glad it is no worse."
"Excuse me, Mr. Garrity, but perhaps you had better have that swellingwrist attended to as soon as possible," remarked Jack. "You have somebruises, too, that are apt to be painful for several days. There is acarriage on the road that might be called on to take you home."
"Thank you, Jack, I will do as you say," replied the one addressed."But depend on it I mean to meet you boys again, and that at a veryearly dat
e."
"We're going to be away somewhere on a midwinter hike immediatelyafter Christmas, sir," Bobolink thought it best to explain. Somehowdeep down in his heart he was already wondering whether thisremarkable rescue of Mr. Garrity might not develop into some sort ofconnection with their partly formed plans.
"Yes," added Bluff, eagerly, suddenly possessed by the same hope, "andit's all going to be settled to-night when we have our monthly meetingin the big room under the church. We'd be pleased to have you drop inand see us, sir. Lots of the leading citizens of Stanhope have visitedour rooms from time to time, but I don't remember ever having seen youthere, Mr. Garrity."
"Thank you for the invitation, my lad," said the other, smilinggrimly. "Perhaps I shall avail myself of it, and I might possibly havesomething of interest to communicate to you and your fellow scouts,"and waving his hand to them he walked away.