He knew that if he could go on with the others their chance of safety would be vastly greater than without him, and so he was disposed to leave no effort untried to be in a fit condition to travel the next night.

When morning came Sam called Tom and Joe, and directed them to examine his wound, into which he could not see very well.
"Is the blood of a bright red, as it comes out, or a dark red ?" he asked.
"Bright," they both said.
"Then it comes from an artery," he replied.

"Are you sure it is bright red ?" The boys were not quite sure.
"Does it come in a steady stream or in spurts ?" he asked.
"It spurts, and stops and spurts again," said Tom.
"It is an artery, then," said Sam.

"Look and see if you can find the place it comes from." The boys made a careful examination and at last found the artery, a small one, which was cut only about half way across.
"All right," said Sam.

"If that's the case, I think I know how to stop the blood.