"Where's--Bobby?" he asked faintly.
"Bobby's safe," said Skipper Ed with a strange choking in his voice.
"Bobby pulled you out, Partner. My brave partner!"
Without delay Skipper Ed now tucked Jimmy into his sleeping bag, and
wrapping an additional caribou skin around each of the boys, set himself
at once to brewing some hot strong tea, which he forced them to drink,
and until they had drunk it and were thoroughly warmed he commanded them
to do no talking, though in spite of the injunction Bobby asked:
"Is Jimmy all right?"
"He's all right," reassured Skipper Ed, "as snug as can be, in his bag.
Now don't say another word until I give you permission. Go to sleep."
"Where's my _netsek_? Did you find it? And my mittens? I'll need 'em
again," persisted the practically disposed Bobby, who was already
thinking of the future.
"You young rascal! Go to sleep, I say, and don't let me hear another
word," insisted Skipper Ed. "I'll go find 'em. Keep quiet now and go to
sleep."
Skipper Ed found the _netsek_ and mittens, as he had promised he would.
The tide had driven the piece of ice upon which Bobby had left them back
again to the main ice. Then he fed the dogs, and when he returned to the
_igloo_ both lads were sleeping soundly.
He filled his pipe, and sat for two hours, and until darkness settled,
smoking and ruminating. He did not know yet the full history of the
accident. He only knew that Jimmy had in some manner got into the water,
was overcome by the icy bath and was perishing when Bobby called, and
that Bobby by quick thought and quick action had saved his young
partner.
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