Dick remembered having crossed a brook but a short distance away, and to this he went and bathed his burns and brought some water back for Arnold Baxter.  His other hand had now become free, so he could work to much better advantage.

“He has been seriously hurt, that is certain,” thought the youth.  “Perhaps he breathed in some of the flames.  If he did that he may never get over it.”

Left to itself the cottage burnt to the ground and then the falling rain put out the hissing embers.  In the meantime Dick did what he could to restore Arnold Baxter to consciousness, and at last had the satisfaction of seeing the man open his eyes.

“Oh!” murmured the man.  “The fire—­”

“You are out of it,” answered Dick soothingly.

“Did you—­did you haul me out?”

“Yes.”

“It was good of you to do it, Rover,” said Arnold Baxter, and then he fainted once more.

CHAPTER XXX

TURNING A NEW LEAF—­CONCLUSION

The night was a long one for Dick Rover and he was glad when the storm cleared away and the first streaks of dawn began to show themselves in the eastern sky.

Arnold Baxter had recovered consciousness, but was evidently in great pain, for he moaned almost constantly.  Dick was willing to aid the sufferer, yet could do little or nothing.

“Tell me the way to our camp and I will get help,” said Dick at last.  And Arnold Baxter gave him the directions as best he could.

“I must have a doctor,” whispered the man hoarsely.  “If not, I’ll surely die.  And I don’t want to die yet, Rover!”

As well as he was able, Dick set off for the lake shore and then began to move in the direction of Bass Island.

He had not gone very far when he heard somebody calling his name.

“Rover!  Dick Rover!” was the cry.  “Dick Rover!”

“It must be a searching party,” he thought, and he was right.  The party contained Tom and Sam, and Mr. Strong, and they said that two other parties were out, one headed by Captain Putnam and the other by an assistant.

“Where in the world have you been?” asked Tom.  “We have been scared almost to death over your absence.”

“It’s a long story,” answered Dick.  “What I want just now is a doctor and a lot of salve.  Just look at me, will you?”

“Blisters!” ejaculated Sam.  “Where did you get those?”

“In a fire that nearly burnt Arnold Baxter to death.  I want the doctor for him.”

And then Dick had to tell the particulars of how he had run across the cottage in the woods and of what had followed.

“And Dan Baxter is here!” ejaculated Tom.  “It doesn’t seem possible.”

“He ought to be locked up,” put in Sam.

It was decided by Mr. Strong that Arnold Baxter should be removed to the camp on a stretcher, and four boys, including Sam and Tom, volunteered for the service.  In the meantime Dick went to camp, to attend to his hurts, and a cadet was sent to Oakville for a doctor.