The boys were not long kept in doubt as to the identity of the figure they had seen at the top of the incline. Before they had proceeded half a dozen paces, an electric light flashed out, and they saw Harry, evidently startled by the noise of their approach, looking toward them.
“It’s Harry, all right!” Jack said. “But that isn’t where we left him. He must have crawled down alone.”
“Perhaps there’s been a mixup on the outside,” Frank suggested.
The whispered conversation was interrupted by a soft call from above. The boys recognized the voice of their chum.
“Frank!” Harry whispered.
“All right!” Frank answered.
“Don’t make too much noise,” Jack suggested. “We’ve just made the discovery that the heart of this stony old mountain is inhabited.”
“Inhabited?” repeated Harry.
“That same!” answered Frank, dropping to the ground at the place where Harry sat. “It’s inhabited, and the inhabitants seem to be averse to our efforts as missionaries.”
The boys talked in low tones for a moment before Harry referred to the arrival of Ned and Jimmie. The excitement over the possible pursuit was so great that even this most important event was overlooked!