ame too late. Deceived by the brushwood and vines
growing at the edge of the cliff, Link Merwell lost his footing, and the
next instant came tumbling headlong.

"Ha, ha! I told you to keep away! Now don't come back!" yelled the
fantastically-dressed man in the bushes behind the cliff; and then with
another yell he suddenly disappeared from view.

Dave and Phil rushed forward fully expecting to find Merwell seriously
hurt. But in falling the youth had been fortunate enough to catch hold
of some of the trailing vines, and these had stayed his progress
somewhat, so that all he received was a violent shaking-up.

"Don--don't let--let him sho--shoot me!" spluttered Link Merwell, as he
turned over and scrambled to his feet. Then, for the first time
recognizing those who stood before him, his face showed more concern
than ever.

"Who's that fellow who attacked you, Link?" asked Dave, quickly.

"I don't know--some crazy old lunatic, I suppose," muttered the former
student of Oak Hall. "Is he--he--coming after me?"

"No, he just dashed out of sight," answered Phil. "He's the same chap
who nearly scared the girls to death," he added to Dave.

"How do you know? He didn't look like that fellow," returned our hero.

"I recognized him by his voice, even though he is dressed quite
differently, Dave. He must be as crazy as they make them."

"Oh, so you know him, do you?" put in Link Merwell, questioningly. He
had gotten to his feet and was now straightening out his apparel.

"I must say, Link, I didn't think I was going to have the pleasure of
meeting you so soon," said Dave, with a little bit of pardonable
sarcasm.

"Humph!" Link Merwell was on the point of saying more, but bit his lip
and kept silent.

"So you were on board the steam yacht when she took fire," put in Phil.

"I was."

"Why didn't you show yourself; were you afraid?"

"That was my business. I didn't have to show myself if I didn't want
to."

"We know well enough why you didn't show yourself, Link," broke in our
hero. "And we also know why you left Mr. Appleby's camp so suddenly. You
were afraid of arrest."

"Who told you that?"

"Nobody told us. We know it," went on Dave. "You have escaped several
times, but I guess we've got you now."

"Hi! don't you dare to touch me!" exclaimed Link Merwell, in fresh
alarm. "You haven't got any right to put your hands on me."

"Right or wrong, Link, we are going to make you a prisoner," declared
Phil, and ad