“Yes, and I must say that I am surprised.”
“The rock fell down shortly after we had gone inside the cave, Billy?” asked Jack.
“Yes. None of us had any suspicion that such a thing would happen, and we were very anxious about you. I don’t see now why it should have happened. We have not had any rains to loosen things.”
“I will tell you how it happened,” said Jack earnestly. “Your man here, with his fierce eyes, like those of a hunted wild beast, was plotting our death when he shoved down that boulder, for it was he who shoved it down I am certain. He probably did not know of the other exit and imagined that we would be imprisoned with no way of getting out.”
“He looks as if he wished you and everybody else dead,” said Billy. “He has a face to make you have bad dreams. Well, we have proved two things to-day.”
“That your pinhole camera is all right,” said Percival, “and that this mysterious man with the white mustache is still in the neighborhood. H’m! I should think he would avoid it.”
“I hoped he might,” said Jack musingly. “It is clear enough from this print that he did not mean any good to you and me, Dick.”
“Yes, and as Billy says, his face is one to haunt you. Well, if he is hanging around these woods we don’t care to make any more exploring trips until we are sure he is out of them. What are you going to do with the big print, Jack?”
“Keep it if the man makes any more trouble,” said Jack shortly. “It will be of use to detectives in identifying him.”
“I suppose I had better not show my print?” said Billy questioningly. “You would rather I would not? I don’t know what you are to this fellow, Jack, and I don’t want to know. You say he is not your father, and that is enough for me.”