“What’s all this rumpus about, anyway?” gasped Hiram Bobb, with bulging eyes.
The situation was quickly explained to him. He volunteered to accompany the party, and the offer was accepted.
“I hope thar won’t be no shootin’ needed,” said Mowry, “but it’s a little unsartin, seein’ as thar’ll likely be three of the rascals at the meetin’-place instid of one.”
A little later the party were advancing softly, and in single file, through the woods. They went swiftly up the trough of the deep and gloomy valley, Mowry leading the way with unerring knowledge.
At last Mowry paused, and waited until his companions had gathered around him. He pointed with one hand to a ledge of rock and bushes that was visible some thirty feet ahead, and stretched two-thirds of the way across the trough of the valley.
“We must git behind that without makin’ any noise,” he said. “Yonder is the big rock, an’ a sort of a clearing roundabout. We’ll be able ter see right into it.”
Mowry led the party on with extra caution. The increased roar of the torrent drowned their soft tread. Even before they reached the line of rocks they detected voices ahead. Tom and Jerry gained the point of vantage at the same time with Mowry. They cautiously parted the bushes and peered through. The sight that instantly met their eyes well repaid Jerry for all his trouble and suffering in the past.
The fast-fading light showed a group of figures standing at the base of the towering bowlder. They were five in number, Mr. Glendale, Raikes, Sparwick, and Brick and Hamp.
The lawyer had just taken a bulky packet from his pocket, and was unrolling the brown paper in which it was wrapped.
“Git ready, men,” whispered Mowry. “Here goes.”