“The vanishing of the mirage came about in a natural manner, but——”
“But you must confess there was something decidedly unnatural about the vanishing of the skeleton.”
“It was removed by human hands—I will wager anything on that.”
“Then where is the human being who removed it?”
“I don’t know.”
Unable to remain below, Rattleton came climbing up to the niche.
“I’ve got to satisfy myself,” he said, as he felt about with his hands, as if he expected to discover the vanished skeleton in that manner. “I can’t see how the blamed old thing could get away!”
“Well, you can see quite as well as we can,” acknowledged Frank. “It is gone, and that is all we can tell about it.”
The boys satisfied themselves that the thing had really disappeared, and they could not begin to solve the mystery. After a time they returned to the ground.
“It am de debbil’s work!” asserted Toots. “Don’ yeh mek no misteks ’bout dat, chilluns.”