“All were well and happy when I left New York,” Gilroy returned, puffing with his long struggle with the mountain side.
“Did Dad give you a vacation?” asked Jack.
“Vacation nothing!” Gilroy answered. “He sent me flying over the continent on a special train, and told me to get to you in seven days. This is the tenth day I’ve been on the road.”
“Whew!” whistled Jack. “Dad won’t like that.”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t help it,” Gilroy returned. “Your father measured surface distances only. He didn’t figure how many thousands of miles I’d have to go up in the air in order to find you!”
“It is some climb,” Jack admitted, “but what’s the rush?”
“If you’ve got a place here where we can talk without being in danger of being overheard,” Gilroy suggested, “I’ll tell you all about it.”
“Oh you can say whatever you have to say in the presence of my chums,” Jack answered. “They won’t leak.”
“That isn’t the idea,” Gilroy stated. “Your father even instructed me to report to your chums if you were not to be found. I know the boys are all right, but the fact is that he is afraid of rank outsiders.”
“Rank outsiders!” repeated Jack with a laugh. “Who is there up here on the mountain to listen to private conversation? Eavesdroppers couldn’t get within sound of our voices without being seen if they tried.”