The boys hurried over to the captain’s quarters and told him of the capture of the messenger. He was highly pleased and sent Chips and another of the Rangers over to Steve’s cabin to get the fellow, whom he decided to take along with him on the expedition. He might be forced into giving important information regarding the mountain pass that led to the camp.
At the end of the half hour everything was ready. The notes of a bugle rang through the camp. The airplane carrying Dick and Tom whizzed into the air and the Rangers leaped into their saddles.
CHAPTER XXIX
To the Rescue
When Phil had flung his radio message out into the night he knew that he had but a slender chance. Suppose static interfered and prevented the reception of his signals. Suppose Steve had been called away from his post. Suppose he were asleep. A score of suppositions forced their way into his tortured brain.
Still, it was a chance, and after he finished his first message he strove to get a grip on himself while he waited for a possible answer.
A click! There it was! And then a perfect delirium of delight swept through him as he spelled out the words:
“We got you, Phil. Thank God you’re still alive!”
There they were, his tried friends and comrades, Dick and Tom and Steve, alert, excited, “wild to be after you.” And the captain was there too, ready with his gallant Rangers to come to his help.
The reaction was so great from despair to hope that he almost lost control of himself. Then by a mighty effort he pulled himself together and continued the interchange of messages.
When these were finished he turned off the batteries and flung himself down and tried to sleep. But his brain was in a whirl and sleep was a long time in coming.