"What is the meaning of this?" demanded the incisive voice of Professor Zepplin.
Smoky made no reply.
"Stacy, what was this man trying to do to you?"
"I—I don't know. I—I was asleep."
"He was asleep," mocked Rector in a deep voice. "Of course he was. He always is. I'm going to organize a first aid to the sleepy corps."
"There won't be any corps, 'cause we'll all be patients," retorted Stacy quickly.
Tad answered the look of inquiry in the eyes of the Professor by explaining what had occurred.
"I believe the fellow intended to crush Stacy's head with the stone. It is fortunate that I got here ahead of him. What do you think we had better do with him?"
"We will talk that over, Tad. All being agreeable we will first seek a more favorable location for camping. Is there water down in the gully yonder, guide?"
"Nassir, yassir. Ah reckon."