ght."

"Huh! our end of it is no trick for a bunch of canvasbacks," said the
foreman of the gang. "Get busy, boys, quick now! Some of you bring some
gasoline torches so's we kin see! Move now, you fellers!"

In five minutes the circus men were working like beavers, weaving the
cable through the pulleys, placing the heavy boom and getting the derrick
fitted up for service. The system and speed with which the trained tent
riggers went about their task was nothing short of marvelous to Bruce.
He watched them almost fascinated until the little manager came up and
claimed his attention.

"Look here you feller, I ain't sure your scheme is goin' t' work out,"
said he, skeptically. "How'er we goin' t' get some light into t' hole t'
see the brute? These gasoline torches can't be lowered down there. The
elephant would go wild and probably drowned hisself, an' if--"

"I'm figuring on using the headlights of Old Nanc (that's the troop's
automobile we built last winter) for searchlights. They are powerful
enough and can be turned anywhere we need 'em. There, you can get a look
at them now. That's Old Nanc on her way here."

Up the road sounded a siren, and the little manager turned to see two
headlights bowling toward him. It was Old Nanc loaded down with the
heavy motor, blasting mat and tools.

"Fine, Bud; you made a fast trip. How are the wire stringers getting
along?" shouted Bruce to the Scout who was driving the machine.

"We passed them about a hundred and fifty yards from here. They are
coming along in fine shape."

"Good," said Bruce. "Now bring Old Nanc right up to the edge of the
quarry hole. We want to shine her headlights down into there and see
what it looks like below. Some of the circus men can unload the motor,
and Nipper, you can show them how to set it up on the derrick platform.
And while all this is going on, Babe, you take charge of making a sling.
Take this blasting mat and get a couple of circus men to help you head a
section of cable to each of the four corners. Fasten the ends together
around that rusty derrick hook attached to the end of the cable. Hurry
it, will you, fellows?"

With the help of some of the "canvas-backs," the automobile was worked
off of the road and into the field on the north side of the quarry hole
near the derrick. Then it was pushed cautiously toward the edge of the
pit and its wheels blocked by some big pieces of marble so that it would
not roll into the