But it wasn’t all right. While Charlie was no jungle rat, he did know that search parties could comb the area f weeks — and not — find them, could pass within feet of tl~ spot and never see them. Possibly no human being h~ ever been where they were now; possibly no hum~ would reach this spot in many years to come.
If he didn’t use his head now, they would never get oi~ Nixie sat patiently, watching him, trusting him. “Nixie, this is up to you now, boy. You understar me?”
Nixie whined. “Go back to the house. Fetch! Fetch Maw. Fet anybody. Right now! Go back to the house.”
Nixie barked.
“Don’t argue with me. You’ve got to do it. Gohom Go back and fetch somebody!”
Nixie looked — dubious, trotted a few steps in the direction in which they had come, stopped and booke around inquiringly. “That’s right! Keep going! Go bac to the house! Fetch somebody! Go!”
Nixie looked sharply at him, then trotted away in businesslike fashion.
Sometime later Charlie raised his head and shook i Gosh! he must have gone to sleep…couldn’t do th~
What if another dragonfly came along…have I stay awake. Was Hans all right? Have to pick him up an get out of here…where was Nixie? “Nixie!”
No answer. That was the last straw. But he’d have I get moving anyhow — His leg wouldn’t work…felt funny. “Nixie! Nixie!
Mrs. Kuppenheimer heard the scratching and whining at the door, wiped her hands on her apron and went to open it. When she saw what was there she threw her hands up. “Lieber Gott! What happened to you?” She knelt swiftly, picked up the little dog and put him on her clean table, bent over him, talking to him and picking leeches from him, wiping away blood. “Schrecklich!”
“What happened to him, Mama?”
“I don’t know.” She went on working. But Nixie jumped Out of her arms, charged straight for the closed door, tried to crash his way out — unsuccessful, he leaped and clawed at it and howled. —
Mrs. Kuppenheimer gathered him up and held his struggling body against her breast. “Gerta! Get Paw!”
“What’s the matter with him, Mama?”
“Something dreadful has happened. Run!”
The Borealis council hall was filled with Scouts and older people. Hans and Charlie were seated in the front row, with Nixie on a chair between them. Hans had crutches across one knee; Charlie had a cane. Mr. Qu’an came down the aisle, saw them, and sat down as Charlie moved Nixie over to share his seat. The Scoutmaster said to Hans, “I thought you were off those things?” His glance touched the crutches.
“I am — but Maw made me bring them.”
“I — ” Mr. Qu’an stopped. An older man had just taken his place at a table in the front of the hall at which were seated half a dozen others.
“Quiet, please.” The man waited a moment. “This Court of Honor is met in special session for awards. It is our first duty tonight — and proud pleasure — to award a life-saving medal. Will Tenderfoot Scout Nixie Vaughn please come forward?”
“Now, Nixie!” Charlie whispered.
Nixie jumped off the chair, trotted forward, sat at attention and saluted, trembling.