Case looked at his chum with questions in his eyes. Then he laughed.
“You’ve been dreaming again!” he said. “Don’t sleep on your back, kid, and you won’t have such terrible experiences.”
“Have I?” demanded Alex indignantly. “You just ask the brakeman what he shot at last night, and then go and look at the top of the car. Perhaps you can squeeze blood out of dreams, but I don’t believe it.”
“Well, why didn’t you tell us about it last night?” demanded Case.
“Because I was sleepy. I’m telling you about it now.”
It took only a few words to inform Case as to the events of the night before. The boy looked perplexed as he asked:
“Are you sure that was the man who chased you when you were out with your kodak? Say,” he went on, without waiting for an answer, “the con. was right about two men swinging on at the pass, wasn’t he?”
“Sure he was. Yes, and I’m pretty certain that one was the man who chased me around the rock. I don’t know why he should have done it. I didn’t see him until he broke out of the darkness behind the ledge. Queer thing!”
“Did he see you taking a picture, with the snoot of the kodak pointing in his direction?” asked Case, with a smile that provoked Alex.
“Come, now, Mr. Sherlock Holmes,” the boy exclaimed, “I suppose you can tell me exactly why he chased me, and what his thoughts were as he shot his long legs through the gloom! How do I know what he saw? I wasn’t taking any picture of him.”