Gradually the situation dawned on them, but they dared not move for fear of being struck by the swinging bell. However, the moment the clamor ceased—which it soon did—Sube scrambled to his feet, and giving Gizzard a healthy prod with his foot, he cried:
"It was a fake! An ever-glorious fake, what you read in the paper!"
"I guess it was, all right," muttered Gizzard as he got up and began to investigate the condition of his eardrums by poking a finger into each ear. "It must of been!"
By the light of the bonfire which now was shining through the window-slats they could see that the bell was still swinging back and forth, but in too small an arc to cause the clapper to strike.
"They must of got tired!" cried Sube. "See! They're tryin' to ring it and can't. Let's jump onto the wheel and help 'em!"
"All right!" was Gizzard's prompt response.
"Now I'll jump on this side, and you jump on that side!" shouted Sube. "We'll work it like a see-saw!"
As they rocked, the bell gathered momentum, and presently began to peal with the regularity of a clock. This was kept up for fully five minutes before they dropped off thoroughly exhausted.
"Woof!—Poof!—Woofoo-oo-oo!" puffed Sube. "Wonder who it was down below. Some of the kids prob'ly, or they wouldn't of got tired so quick."
"Whee-ee-ee-ew!" blew Gizzard. "Hot work!"