"I—I don't feel the rest o—of th—the bridge!" he chattered.
"It is gone!" cried one boy, in a disguised voice. "Turn around and come back."
"But be careful how you turn, or the board may wabble and let you drop," added another.
More scared than ever, Tom Atwood turned around very gingerly. Once he thought the board was going over, and he set up a yell of fright. Then slowly and painfully he came back over the plank until he reached the solid ground once more.
"Hurrah!" cried the Gee Eyes. "Bravely done, Tom!"
"Now you are one of us!"
"He didn't mind that deep gully at all!"
"Yes, but I did mind it," answered the victim, as they were taking the cover from his eyes. "I wouldn't do that again for a hundred dollars in cash!"
"It was certainly the bravest thing to do I ever heard of," was Dave's comment, and then he tore the bandage away. Immediately, by the light of the lanterns the boys had on their headpieces, Tom Atwood looked at the plank which had cost him so much worry and fright.