Then I looked and I didn't see Westy, but all the fellows were heading for the ditch and I knew right away what had happened.

Somebody hollered, "Get your kit, Doc, and hurry up." There was a ditch near where the saplings grew and usually there were a couple of boards across it.

But they weren't there when all of us fellows went across and we had to go down into the ditch and climb up the other side.

I guess the woodsmen had taken them, maybe.
Anyway, when Westy came along the path he was running so hard he didn't notice in time that the boards weren't there, and he went head over heels into the ditch.

I guess I was the last one to get there, and all the fellows were standing around and Doc was kneeling over Westy, and feeling his pulse.