A Young Hero Part 3

"Well, we should have had to start to-night, or to-morrow, so it only means that we have come away in a hurry and meet him all the sooner."

"To be sure," said the boy, eagerly.

"You won't mind going without your dinner?"

"Of course not," cried Phil, stoutly.

"And if we have to sleep in a barn or shed somewhere to-night instead of a comfortable bed, you won't mind that either, will you?"

"Not a bit," cried Phil. "Let's sleep in the forest, and cut down boughs and pick leaves for a bed. It would be fun. I should like it."

"To be sure you would."

"Wouldn't you, Dr Martin?"

"That I should, my boy," cried the Doctor, who was still eagerly searching the fields and meadows broken up by patches of forest. "Look here, Phil; we want to get away, as your father wishes, from all this terrible war, so we'll put all lessons aside and think of nothing but making this a holiday excursion amongst the fields and woods; and when we get tired we'll sit down on a tree trunk and rest, and if the sun is too hot we will have a nap in the shade. Sometimes we shall be thirsty."

"And then we'll lie down on the bank of a river and drink," cried Phil, clapping his hands.

"To be sure--drink the beautiful clear water. We can sleep, too, in the fir woods. The soft fir needles make a beautiful aromatic bed."

"What's aromatic?" said Phil, with his eyes sparkling.

"Sweet-scented and spicy."

"I shall like that," cried the boy; "only won't the fir needles p.r.i.c.k when we undress?"

"But we shan't undress, my boy."

"What fun! Father will laugh when I tell him by and by. But you don't say a word about what we are to eat, Dr Martin?"

"Oh, we shall find something to eat. Why, we might catch some fish perhaps in the streams."

"Yes," cried Phil, excitedly.

"And make a fire and bake them in the hot ashes."

"To be sure," cried Phil, clapping his hands again.

"Sometimes, too, we may be able to dig up a few potatoes."

"And roast them."

"Of course. You'll like making a fire."

"I shall," cried the boy, with emphasis.

"Then we can call at a farm sometimes and buy some bread and milk and--"

"I say, Dr Martin, this _is_ going to be a holiday. Which way are we going?"

"Straight away yonder, my boy--south, towards the British possessions."

"Make haste then. Take hold of my hand and let's run like father calls double. Let's get to that river we drove to in the car months ago."

"Yes, we might go that way," said the Doctor, thoughtfully. "But why did you choose that route?"

"Because I want to catch some fish for dinner."

"Without hook or line?"

"I shall go into the shallow, where we can see them, and splash them out with my hands."

"To be sure, or perhaps spear one with a long, sharp stick."

"Yes, I'll try that. Oh, do let's go on at once. I want to begin."

"Very well," said the Doctor, after a long, anxious look round. "You go first, and I'll follow."

"Let's walk fast," said Phil.

"Yes, let's walk fast," replied the Doctor.

And they started off along by the wood side, then by hedges and ditches, and on and on, keeping to the open country and avoiding every farm, Phil trudging away manfully, while whenever he showed his weariness, the Doctor picked out some beautiful flowery prairie, or the side of a pine wood, that they might rest.

But the way was rough and long, and when Phil's enthusiasm had lasted till far in the afternoon, the sun seemed to beat down hot, and the poor boy's feet dragged heavily, while much talking had made the Doctor's voice sound husky, and a great thirst troubled both.

"Getting tired, Phil?"

The little fellow turned--his weary, troubled eyes towards his questioner, and was about to say, "Oh, so tired and so hungry!" But he forced himself to say:

"Yes, just a little."

"Ah, and so am I," said the old man, cheerily; "but look yonder!"

"Soldiers!" cried Phil, excitedly.

"No, no, no, my boy; we are free and safe, and out in the open country.

I mean, look at that dark fir wood yonder, and the gleam of suns.h.i.+ne on water! Let's get there and rest and bathe our feet; and then what do you say to a nap?"

"Shall we find the fish and make the fire, Dr Martin?" said the boy, anxiously.

"I hope so," was the reply. "Let's try. Come along. Hang on to my hand; or, look here, Phil, what do you say to a pig-a-back?"

"Yes," cried the little fellow, holding out his hands eagerly. "No, I won't. I'm not quite tired, and I'm getting so heavy now. It isn't far, is it?"

"Not very," said the Doctor, rather faintly, and they trudged on and reached a little stream, which cut its way through the sandy land just at the very edge of a pine wood, to sink at once upon the bank.

There were no fish visible, but the clear water was delicious, and they drank long and deeply, before bathing their weary and sore feet.