"Oh, rats! Nothing like that is going to happen!" sneered Lanky, for the horseman was far enough away to prevent their low voices from reaching his ears. "He's just taking a last look at the rookery here, that's all.
"What sort of a crackling sound was that just then?" demanded Paul suspiciously.
"Didn't happen to catch anything. What did it sound like?" asked Lanky, carelessly enough and continuing to watch the sitting Zeke.
"Just like you'd started your cooking fire, Lanky. And say, I smell smoke right now, I tell you!"
"That settles the question of why he's hanging around so!" exclaimed Frank. "He's set fire to this old hotel, and wants to see it blaze up!"
"Gee, whiz, that makes it look bad!" ejaculated Lanky Wallace, as he too grasped the serious dilemma by which they were now confronted.
CHAPTER XIX