as lowered, as
if the column had been dipped to the ground in front.

"If he is talking United States instead of Spanish," Jimmie said, "I'll
read it for you. The Scouts use those signals. The motion from
vertical to right is ONE, that from vertical to left is TWO, and that
from vertical to the front is THREE. See! It is United States, for
there are two left motions, meaning A. Now there's two twos and a one,
repeated. That means two 1's. 'All' is the word."

"That is the way I read it," said Nestor.

"Wait," said Jimmie. "He didn't give the signal which indicates the
end of the word. Here's one two and two ones. That means R. One one is
I. Two twos and two ones make G. One one and two twos make H. One
two makes T. There! He's said 'All Right,' and in English. Now, what
are Americans doing up there?"

"That may not be the end of the message," suggested Fremont.

"See the three threes?" asked Jimmie. "That means the end of the
sentence. Now, there's double two, double two, double two, triple
three. That means for the other fellow, who must be down the mountain
somewhere, to quit signaling. He's gettin' exclusive, eh?"

"I don't understand why those signals are in English," said Nestor.
"There are plenty of Americans mixed up in this mess, but they are not
doing the signaling, so far as I have heard. It would seem that the
wig-wag ought to be in Spanish. I wonder if I could get down the
mountain to the man there? It would be easier than climbing."

"I'll go with you," decided Frank. "If I fall it will be like rolling
a feather bed down the mountains. Besides, you may need assistance."

And before the others could protest, the two boys were on their way
down the steep descent.

CHAPTER VIII.

A STRANGE DISAPPEARANCE.

It was weirdly lonely in the dark little dent on the side of the
mountain after the departure of the two boys, and Jimmie drew closer to
his companion. The wind which swept the heights was chilly.

The two lay close together in silence for a long time, each, doubtless,
thinking of the Great White Way and the lights which would now be
glittering there, of the bay, of the East River with its shipping, and
of the hundred things which make New York a city, once seen, to be
remembered forever. Then a rumble as of a stone crashing down came to
their ears and they sprang to their feet.

"There's some one coming," whispered Jimmie, and they listened, but the
only sound they h