“It’s Ocker!” exclaimed Fred, as they drew closer.
“Help! Help!” came faintly from the man as he saw the dim forms of the boys in the darkness. “Help! I’m being crushed to death!”
Fully realizing that they might be playing into the hands of their enemies and yet not willing to see Ocker crushed to death, [the four lads] sprang forward and [began to tug at the tree] branches which held the fellow a prisoner. They could see that any instant the top of the tree might break away entirely from the trunk and then Ocker would be crushed to a pulp.
It was strenuous work, but the military experiences of the former cadets stood them in good stead, and now, as the twins and Jack raised one limb after another, Fred propped them up with such stones as were handy so that they could not slip back. Then, while the twins continued to exert pressure on the treetop, Jack hauled Ocker away.
The man was bruised and bleeding and for the moment so winded he could scarcely speak. At first he had not recognized his rescuers and he stared in astonishment when another flash of lightning revealed their faces.
“You!” he gasped hoarsely. “You! And I was helping to keep you prisoners!”
“Ocker, we have saved your life, and you know it,” answered Jack quickly. “Now then, it is up to you to help us escape. Will you do it?”
“I sure will!” panted the man. “I’m done with that crowd, anyhow. I told Davenport I wasn’t brought up to do such dirty work as he has planned.” Ocker paused to regain his breath. “Why, Davenport is as bad a skunk as Pete Garrish!”
“Pete Garrish!” exclaimed Randy. “Do you know anything about that man?”
“I know everything about him,” muttered Ocker. “He and his crowd are trying to swindle your father and some other men out of their interest in the Rolling Thunder mine.”