"Methinks your parachute must be out of order. You descended with exceeding great violence. What think you if we make haste to depart?"
"Jack!" exclaimed Frank.
"The same," was the assurance, as Ready clutched his arm and started him on the run. "Dear me! I know this strenuous life will yet bring me to my death!"
Ahead of them Frank saw some figures moving hastily away.
"The girl——"
"They've got her," assured Jack. "Old Joe is with them. We'll talk it over later."
So they ran, well knowing the whole of Sunk Hole would be looking for them within thirty minutes. It did not take them long to come up with Bart, Ephraim, and old Joe.
Behind them there sounded shouts and commands, and it was well the whole of Sunk Hole had been at the dance, else the place must have been aroused so that they would have run into some of its inhabitants. Here and there amid the buildings they dodged until[Pg 314] they arrived at the edge of the collection and struck out for the side of the valley, Crowfoot leading.
It was necessary to trust everything to the old Indian. Without him they could not have known with any certainty that they were taking the proper course to enable them to get out of the valley.
The girl was passed from one to another as they ran. They did not waste their breath in words.