"Oh! Ginger snaps and pop-guns! Don't mention it!" groaned Tubby.
"But that wouldn't be like Rob!" asserted Merritt, just as though he might be trying the best way he knew to bolster up his own courage with this hope. "It would be more his style to take a last look this way to see if we had scattered to carry out his orders. Keep doing it right along, Tubby, while we all watch and hope he'll turn around soon!"
It was an anxious time for those three lads, and one they were not likely to forget soon, either.
All at once a whoop went up from Tubby.
"He's turned around, and is looking this way!" he exclaimed.
"Keep going, then; faster, Tubby!" cried Merritt. "Tell him to wait up—very important!"
"There he is, starting in to wave!" cried Andy.
"W-h-a-t d-o y-o-u w-a-n-t?" came the question from above, with every one of the three eager scouts below spelling it aloud.
"Stay where you are—great danger—three Federals in hiding on trail you took going up. If you must come down, pick another route!"
Tubby sent all of this, Merritt supplying him with the words in rotation; and evidently it was read correctly, for immediately after the message ceased, Rob sent back his "O. K.," and added: "Don't fear for me; I can take care of myself. So long!"