In the meantime Captain Andrews and Tom had been plunging through the brush on the steep cliffside, trying to work their way to the top. This appeared to be a task difficult of accomplishment. For one thing, the ground was loose and scaly, and for another, the brush grew very densely.
They were forced to be cautious in their ascent, too, as any undue noise was likely to bring the rascals who were trailing them about their ears in a hurry. At length they struck a sort of path, and before long gained the summit; But at about the same time that they found the trail their enemies struck it, too, and were close on their heels. Just at the top of the cliff a big rock lay poised beside the path.
Captain Andrews saw that this gave them an opportunity to hold their foes at bay, and he was quick to take advantage of it.
“Tom,” he whispered, “make off at top speed and get help as soon as possible. Jump now!”
“But what are you going to do?” Tom wanted to know.
“I’m going to keep those fellows from getting up, by this path at any rate,” was the response.
Tom knew that it was no time for argument, and although he did not much like leaving Captain Andrews alorie, he made off in all haste across the country. Before long he struck a road, and soon after got a lift in a passing wagon to a near-by village.
In the meantime an exciting scene had been enacted at the cliff top. Tom had not left Captain Andrews five minutes before Jake Rook, in advance of the others, straggled up the trail. As he reached the top he was amazed to hear a voice proceeding apparently from behind a big boulder, which was poised on the summit.
“You’ll have to go around the other way, gentlemen,” said Captain Andrews suavely; “if you advance any further I’m mightily afraid that this rock may roll down on you.”
“See here, Andrews,” came back the voice of Captain Flinders, “you’ve been imposed upon by those boys.”