ve as though
he expected some great ogre or dragon to emerge any moment.

"Watch that cave, Pop," directed Grant. "Perhaps we'd better get out of
here."

"Can't you talk, John?" exclaimed Fred. "Tell us what the trouble is."

John gulped and swallowed hard a couple of times. He pointed towards the
cave and his lips moved, but no sound that resembled a word came from
his ashen-colored lips.

"Come on, John," coaxed Fred. "You're all right. Tell us about it."

John made another great effort. "That man," he managed to gasp.

"'Man'!" cried Grant. "What man?"

"I saw a man," said John and then he fainted.

"This is a mess," exclaimed Grant in dismay. "What shall we do?"

"He saw a man," said Fred in alarm. "Who could it be?"

"How do I know?" said Grant testily. "Are you watching that cave, Pop?"

"I certainly am. Hand me one of those rocks."

The three boys stood on the narrow ledge of rocks in a quandary as to
what course they should pursue. Below them was the steep, rocky incline
of the hill and behind them was the cave containing they knew not what.
At their feet lay their comrade, unconscious and helpless. It was a
situation that would have worried the oldest and most hardened
adventurer.

"We've got to get John away from here," said Grant at last.

"We can't do it," objected Fred. "We can't carry him down this hill."

"But suppose we're attacked," said Grant dolefully.

"We'll have to run that risk."

"I'm going into the cave," George announced suddenly.

"Pop!" cried Grant in alarm. "You stay where you are."

"Why not go in and clear up the mystery right now?" said George. "We
might just as well."

"You're crazy," exclaimed Fred. "Don't think of such a thing."

"Nothing hurt John," said George soberly.

"Yes," cried Grant, "but look at him now. He was scared almost to
death!"

The three boys gazed apprehensively at the entrance of the cave. They
all had rocks in their hands now and were ready to let them fly the
moment the man John had seen should show his head. Nothing appeared,
however.

After a moment John stirred and opened his eyes. He looked about him in
a puzzled way as though he did not know where he was. Then he evidently
remembered his experience for he shuddered and cast a terror-stricken
glance at the dark entrance of the cave.

"I saw a man," he repeated in a low voice.

"What kind of a man? Who was it?" demanded Grant eagerly. "Keep your eye
on that cave, Pop," he added