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Chapter 4
Tony and I didn't get much sleep. He could not relax enough to fall asleep and when he did it was for only a short time. A bad dream would wake him and he had to start all over again. His tossing and turning keep me awake. Morning finally arrived and I got out of bed and decided to go down by the stream and do a little hunting. I told Tony to stay in bed and try to sleep that I would return later.
I was walking very cautiously along between the edge of the timber and the meadow. I spotted two grouse. They allowed me to get very close to them. I shot both of them, hitting them in the head, thus not wasting any meat. I went back to camp, built a fire and waited for a good bed of coals for cooking. While I was waiting, I cleaned the birds and later started them to cook. Soon the grouse were completely cooked.
I went to the tent and had to shake Tony awake. "Tony, time to get up. Breakfast is ready and we need to march on down toward Loon lake. Go do your thing in the bushes and come on over here. I have a big surprise waiting for you-one that I think you will like."
"Dave, when did you get the grouse. I didn't hear any shots! I must say this is the best breakfast that I have ever had."
"Tony, you were completely zonked. I got them about an hour ago. Eat the whole bird because, you probably won't have any lunch. If we knew how long it would take us to get out, we probably wouldn't have to conserve so much. I would rather error on the safe side than be sorry."
"I have a little reserve built up so it won't hurt me to skip a meal or two. I need to lose a little weight anyway."
Dave and Tony filled the canteens after boiling the water, loaded their packs, made sure the campfire was completely out, and got under way. They made good headway, They found a good camping place and made camp.
"I am just going to use one of the dehydrated lunches, we can share one. While I am getting it ready, why don't you go over and pick some of those blackberries. Use the coffee pot to put them in."
Soon we had eaten the main course and started on the blackberries. "Dave, these berries are delicious. Much better than the ones we get from the store."
"Just good organic berries and they are loaded with sugar which will give us a lot of energy."
"Tony, I don't want to scare you but don't make any sudden moves Get a tin cup or spoon and pan. I am going to get the pistol and our cameras."
"Dave what are you talking about?"
"Over to the left, about 100 yard, is a bear. I think it is just a yearling and should not give us any trouble. Calm down, we are in no danger yet. I want to see if we can get a couple of pictures to remember this trip by." Tony and Dave got every thing ready.
"Tony, when I give the signal start beating the cup and pan together. Yell at the top of you lungs. I am going to be doing the same thing. The loud sudden noise should send Mister Bear high tailing it out of here."
The bear moved out in the open and came a little closer to us. We had our cameras going click, click, click. The bear started moving toward us at a pretty good clip.
"Now, Tony give it every thing you have!"
The bear wheeled and headed out at a very fast pace. "You can stop making all that racket now. He is probably in the next county by now. Thanks, Tony for listening to me. If you hadn't things might have been a little different. If it makes you feel any better I had the gun ready, just in case. I will sleep with it under my pillow so if Mister Bear decides to pay us another visit. I will be ready for him."
"Dave, I am getting better. I didn't even have a panic attack. I just hope some of the pictures turn out. Martha will just love seeing them. If it makes you feel any better, I have full confidence in you ability to get us out safely. After we get out, I may kick your ass but good for putting me through all of this." Laughed Tony.
"Not if I kick yours first. I think that tonight will be lot more peaceful than last night. We both have become a lot calmer and now we can just enjoy the rest to the downward journey."
"Dave, I hope we have lots more adventures together. I have led a very sheltered life all of this outdoor stuff is a brand new adventure for me. I am starting to love every minute of it."
"Tony, this is a new adventure for me. This is my very first time hiking in the woods." Roared Dave. "If you believe that I will even sell you the Brooklyn Bridge! Real cheap!"
"How can you sell me the Bridge, when I already own it!" Chuckled Tony.
That night in bed, Tony and Dave just lay holding each other and talking. It was very evident that the bond between them was growing stronger and stronger. They finally said their goodnights and fell asleep almost immediately.
The next morning, they had a light breakfast of dried fruit and started their trek down the mountain., near the noon hour they found a another blackberry patch and ate their fill right off the bush.. After a short rest, they were off again.
They were going down a steep slope with a lot of loose rock, Tony lost his footing and rolled down to the bottom. Dave hurried down and took him in his arms. "Tony, did you break any thing.
"Nothing but my pride."
"Good, that will heal very soon!" grinned Dave.
"I twisted my ankle but I don't think it is broken."
"Take your boot off and let me look at it. I need to put some ointment on those abrasions so that they don't get infection. Let me help you over to that log so that you can sit down. Now don't put any weight on that foot. Put all you weight on me."
Dave checked Tony's ankle over very carefully. "You are right, I don't think it is broken but it will need to be taped. You have a pair of long thin cotton socks in your bag don't you?"
"Yes, but they are dirty!"
"No, a problem! No one will ever know unless you tell them. Hand them to me. This ankle needs to be taped before it starts swelling. If it does you will never get the boot on."
"That would mean that I would be left behind while you went for help, right?"
"Most likely, that would be the case."
"I don't want that to happen so hurry."
Dave took a roll of duct tape out of his pack, slipped the sock over the one that Tony had on his foot. He started wrapping the tape on the outside of the sock. Soon he had the ankle securely wrapped.
"Tony, let's get that boot back on. I want to lace it real tight but not so tight to cut off the circulation. This repair job is going to feel funny but you will soon get use to it."
Dave took the hatchet and went to look for a small forked tree or limb that could be used for a crutch. Dave had Tony stand and measured the crutch so that it was the correct height.
"Now, what do we have in these packs that I can use for padding to keep your underarm from getting raw. Ah, here we go!"
"Hey, you aren't going to ruin my favorite pair of jeans, are you?"
"Yes, unless you have a better idea."
" I'll just close my eyes so I can't see what you are doing" Laughed Tony.
Dave used his pocketknife and cut the jeans into 2" strips. Then he wrapped the crutch so that it would keep the wood from rubbing the underarm.
"Ok, Tony, let's see how this is going to work. Don't put any more pressure on the foot than absolutely necessary!"
"Looks good. I will be right back. Just sit there on the log and wait for me. I am going to get two more poles a make a travois. I will put the backpacks on it and then you can walk with out the pack getting in your way . You won`t have the extra weight to carry and can pay attention to where you are walking."
"I don't know what your are talking about, so go ahead and do it."
Dave returned with two sticks about 6 feet long and three inches in diameter. "Now, let's see what I can use in these pack. Just what I need!" He said as he removed two long sleeve shirts.
"Hey, you aren't going to cut those up also. Pretty soon you will have running around completely naked!"
"Good idea, Why don't you strip while I finish this job. Just kidding. You can relax now."
Dave made some small slits in the shirt tails and used some little sticks to sew them together. This was done like he was weaving with the sticks. He used the duct tape to attach the shirts to the poles, thus making a sling between the two poles. He placed the back packs on the sling and secured them so that they would not fall off the travois.
"Hey. I am ready to go. Shall we get started. I want to find another campsite soon. We will make this a short day."
"Lead the way, Tony and don't try to go to fast."
Tony started out. Dave stood between the poles and took one it each hand and started dragging his load behind him. They were making good time and neither appeared to be tiring when they reached a good camping spot that had been used before by someone.
"Dave, I can continue on for awhile longer, if you want to go on a little farther."
"I sure do. This old fire pit makes me think that we are getting closer to civilization. Let's take a breather and the move on down the hill."
After another two hours of travel, they found an ideal spot. Just below a large rim rock. "I like this overhang. It almost make a cave and will protect us from the storm that is moving into our area. It looks like it could be a nasty one. In fact, I had better hurry and get camp set up. Tony, why don't you find a log and sit. Whatever, you do, don't take your boot off!
"I think that I can get some firewood while you are setting up camp. I am still in pretty good shape."
"Do only what you can. Listen to your body. If it says sit, then you sit. OK?