No one replied to this, but all rushed boldly into the stream. Soon they had raised the body up and carried it to a patch of grass under a tree. The professor got down on his knees to make an examination.

“He is alive!” he murmured, after a painful pause. “I believe he has only been stunned.”

As he finished speaking Darry gave a shudder and opened his eyes.

“Whoa!” he murmured. “Whoa!” and then closed his eyes and gave a shiver.

“You are safe now, my boy,” said the professor. “Take it easy. You are safe.”

At last Darry opened his eyes again and gave a gasp.

“Wha—what does this mean?” he questioned, slowly, and then put his hand to his side and gave a groan.

“Don’t you remember the explosion?” asked Mark. “The horse must have thrown you.”

“Yes, yes, I remember now. Is the—the horse all right?”

“Never mind the horse,” put in Enrique Morano. “I sincerely trust you are not seriously injured.”