ous of a thrill of thankfulness that the older
fellow was here to depend upon. A second later he was stretched out on
the ground, his head thrust over the hole.

"Court!" he called loudly. "Court--are you down there?"

For an instant there was no sound. Then his words beat back on him in
a queer, sardonic kind of echo that sent a shiver flickering down his
spine. He called again, but still there was no reply. Staring down, he
tried to penetrate the darkness, but his straining sight could make out
nothing but black void. A vivid picture of the mine-shaft he had once
seen in Pennsylvania flashed into his mind and turned him cold. Then a
step sounded behind him, and lifting his head, he looked into Ranny's
set face.

"Does he answer?"

"No."

"Let me get there."

Scrambling to his feet, Dale flattened out against the rock and Ranny
took his place. Two or three times the latter shouted Parker's name, but
only the echo answered. Then he stood up, and, squeezing past Tompkins,
pressed through the crowd of boys gathered about the entrance to the
crevice. His face was a little pale, but his jaw was square and he held
a scout whistle in one hand. A moment later three long shrill blasts
resounded through the woods.

It was the scout danger-signal--a call for help. The boys stood
motionless, listening intently for an answer. Presently it came, two
short blasts, rather faint and far off, from over the top of the hill.

"That's Mr. Reed, I guess," said Ranny. "I hope he'll bring that coil
of rope along. But of course he will. He's not the kind to forget any--"

The words died on his lips; his eyes widened in startled surprise.
The others, following the direction of his bewildered gaze, gasped
and stared. Bennie Rhead, returned from a fruitless trip to the old
foundation, cried out sharply, an undercurrent of fright in his voice.

Around the corner of the great rock Court Parker had stepped quietly
into view. He was bareheaded and dirt-streaked, but his face nevertheless
wore a broad grin, and after the first shock of surprise had passed,
Bob Gibson started forward angrily.

"By heck!" he exclaimed irately. "If you think this sort of thing is
funny, Court Parker, it's about time somebody taught you--"

"Shut up, Bob!" cut in Ranny, curtly. His quick eye had taken in the
streak of blood on Parker's cheek and noted a slight twitching at the
corners of the boy's smiling mouth. "You're not hurt, are you, Court?" he
added q