Frank smiled.
“It was lucky, Hodge,” he agreed. “But I don’t forget that you came without a selfish thought on your part. You came to help me in my fight against Milton Sukes. I am far better pleased for your sake than for my own that we have had this streak of luck. Let’s knock off for the night, old man. There’s no reason why we should stick to it longer.”
As they were climbing from the fissure by the narrow and difficult path, little Abe came rushing excitedly to the brink above and called to them.
“Come quick! Come quick!” he cried.
“What’s the matter, Abe?” asked Frank, alarmed by the boy’s manner.
“Somebody’s coming,” said the hunchback; “a man on a horse. He is coming right this way. He has seen the tent!”
“We may have some trouble after all, Merry,” said Hodge.
Ere they could reach the head of the path near the waterfall they plainly heard the thudding hoofs of the horse coming rapidly in that direction. When they had reached the level ground above they beheld the horseman approaching. It seemed that he observed them at the same time, for he suddenly waved his hat in the air and gave a yell.
“By Jove!” exclaimed Merry, “I know him! It is Wiley!”
“Right you are!” agreed Hodge. “What the dickens could have brought him here at this time?”