“Then this Norman kid told the truth for once in his life!” Jimmie admitted. “If he really has directed us to the assistance of our friends I’ll forgive him all the mean things he ever did to us.”
“Well,” Ned said in a moment, “we can now try the rope. We don’t know whether it is long enough to reach the bottom or not, but it will at least bring us nearer to our chums. I don’t half like the idea of going down in the darkness, because there’s no knowing what we may run into, but it’s got to be done all the same.”
“Let me go!” exclaimed Jimmie excitedly. “You and Gilroy can stay here and handle the rope.”
“But you always get lost, little boy!” Ned said with a chuckle.
“I don’t know how I’m ever going to get lost in the bottom of a dip like that,” Jimmie answered. “From what I can see of it, it looks about like the bottom of an old brass kettle.”
After listening to the conversation of the boys for a moment, and reaching the conclusion that he would be required to drop into the dark pit with the others, Gilroy now sprang to his feet and approached Ned with trembling footsteps.
“T can’t get down there!” he almost shouted. “My arms are weak, and my shoulders are lame, and I never could hang onto the rope. I should fall and be crushed to a pulp on the rocks below!”
“Look here, Gilroy!” Ned said angrily. “You must remember that we have troubles of our own. If you don’t want to go with us, perhaps you may be able to find your way back to camp.”
“Never, never, never!” cried the fat confidential clerk. “Didn’t I tell you that I left a bear at the camp?”
“Well,” Ned argued with the fellow, “you and I will lower Jimmie into the hole. Then you can lower me and wait until we get ready to come back. I’ll leave a revolver and searchlight with you, only you mustn’t do any shooting, and you mustn’t show the light under any circumstances. It would be dangerous to do so.”