"Enjoy it down here, all bottled up?" asked Bob Somers.
"Oh, yes—of course—but not until I found that the cork was out."
Howard smiled faintly, while several of his hearers laughed, and the former then added, "We were going to let you know as soon as possible that I was very much alive. Pater said it was a downright shame not to tell you fellows right away. Honestly, it was my fault—but it's all right, isn't it, eh?"
"All right, old man," said Bob, and they shook hands all around.
[CHAPTER XXVII]
UP THE CLIFFS
After lunch, the Ramblers accompanied Fenton to "Mystery Falls," as they termed the cataract. To reach it, they had to pass around a ledge of rock into a third valley.
"My!" observed Sam, striving to make his voice heard above the roar and his face paling a little, "isn't it awful to think of what——"
"Don't think of it, Sam," interrupted Dave, with a laugh, "but enjoy the scene."