As they came near, he saw that they were bearing two wide planks, one man at either end of each, the leaders carrying the lanterns. Evidently they had decided not to wait until morning before attempting to release the boy from his strange prison.
Finally they reached the flat rock near the waterfall and the two planks were laid across the intervening space between the shore and the cave. Hal adjusted his end of the planks so that they rested firmly; then he picked up the leather bag and his lantern and walked across the bridge.
Without further delay, they turned and walked down the stream again. No attempt was made to discuss the affair until they had forded the river and returned to the stage road near which the automobile had been left. Hal was then the first to speak.
“Where’s Frank?” he inquired.
“We took him back to the school and put him in bed,” replied Mr. Frankland. “Evidently you could see and recognize him from behind the waterfall.”
“Yes,” answered the boy. Then he continued: “It wasn’t his fault that I was trapped behind the fall. It was all an accident. He slipped and hit the board with his foot.”
Hal’s companions were amused at this unconscious charity toward Frank. If there had been light enough they probably would have winked at each other. In his fear of the gallows, the former youthful terrorizer had confessed just how he happened to kick the plank into the waterfall and, as he thought, dropped Hal to a fearful fate.
With little delay, except to crank the machine, they all got into the automobile and soon were bowling along the stage road. As they were leaving the cañon, Dr. Byrd inquired:
“What kind of place is that cave, Hal?”
The boy gave a brief description of it; then he added: