"They have taken the king of the cannibal islands away!"
Frank recognized the voice as that of the insane man who had caused a disturbance the first night he was on duty.
"Where have they taken him?" asked Frank, and he hoped the man could answer rationally.
"They have taken him away," the man went on. "I know! I'm crazy but I know. The cannibals have taken the king away. Ha! Ha! A good joke!"
He was speaking and laughing in low tones.
"I have come to rescue him. He is my father! Can't you tell me where he is?" pleaded Frank.
"Good boy! Rescue father," whispered the lunatic. "I know. My head is a barrel, and if I came down the ladder I would fall. I don't want to be rescued. I own this place. But number twenty-eight. Yes, he ought to go. He's all right. They give him bad stuff to eat. I'm a barrel, but I own this place. It's barreled up inside of me. This side up with care! C. O. D. you know. Pay all charges. Ha! Ha! Good joke! They took the king away."
"But where?" persisted Frank. Was his plan to fail? Had the asylum authorities found out about it and removed his father?
"What's the matter?" called Bart from below.
"Think!" whispered Frank to the lunatic. "Tell me where he is! I want to take him away!"