"Where is he?" repeated Ned.
"Chops is standing on his head just ahead of you behind those bushes. Get hold of him so I can let up on the rope."
With a yell of triumph, Ned threw himself on the colored man, who was too dazed from the shock of his fall to offer much resistance.
At this juncture Walter Perkins came in on a trot, followed after an interval of a minute or so by the shouting, puffing fat boy.
"You are to blame for this, Chunky," growled Ned, trying to be stern.
"It strikes me that you are sitting on Chops yourself. You surely can't blame me for that," retorted Stacy.
"Here, you, get up and come back to camp with us," commanded Tad.
"Yes, Chops, the gnomes will get you out here," reminded Stacy.
"Stop it! You'll have him on the run again," rebuked Tad.
Chops looked up, wide-eyed.