Part 30 (1/2)

was the cry, and then the victim was sent flat on his back on the wooden slide. He let up a shriek of agony, and another shriek as he commenced to slide down. Then he lost his nerve completely, and uttered yell after yell, only ending when he struck the sawdust with such force that he turned a complete somersault and got some sawdust in his mouth and nose.

”My, but he certainly knows how to scream!” remarked Dave, as he and the others rushed below, to join the crowd. ”I hope he doesn't rouse the neighborhood.”

When the cloth was removed from Nat's eyes, and he had a chance to see where he had landed, he was the maddest lad present. All the other victims were laughing at him, and the club members almost doubled up in their mirth.

”Think you're smart, don't you?” he snarled. ”But you just wait!”

”Want more of the initiation?” demanded Buster.

”No, I don't! You let me go! I'm going back to the school!”

”So are we, Nat, and you'll go with us,” answered Shadow. ”Don't let him get away from us!” he whispered to his friends.

”Well, this winds up the initiation,” said Buster, throwing off his headgear, a movement that was followed by the others. ”You fellows are now full-fledged members of the Gee Eyes.”

”And I'm glad it is over,” answered one of the victims. ”Say, but that was a dandy shoot the chutes!” he added, half in admiration.

”It is not quite as firm as it might be,” said Dave. ”It needs more bracing up on the sides. The carpenters aren't done, I suppose.”

”I thought it was mighty shaky myself,” put in Phil. ”Why, once I thought it was going down with us.”

”Oh, it's as sound as a dollar!” cried Shadow. ”Of course, with such a crowd----”

Shadow did not finish, for from above the boys in the sawdust pit, there came a sudden ominous cracking. In the semi-darkness of the night they saw a brace snap in twain. Another brace quickly followed, and then the wooden slide commenced to sway from side to side.

”It's coming down!” yelled Roger, hoa.r.s.ely. ”Get out of here quick--unless you want to be killed!”

CHAPTER XIX

SNEAK AGAINST SNEAK

It was a time of extreme peril for the boys in the sawdust pit at the bottom of the wooden slide, and n.o.body realized this more thoroughly than did Dave. In some manner the wooden bracings had become loosened, and the ponderous slide was in danger of coming down with a mighty crash on their heads. If it did this, more than likely some of the lads would be seriously injured, if not killed.

”Jump from the pit!” yelled Dave, and caught Phil by one hand and Roger by the other. All made a wild scramble, kicking the sawdust in all directions.

”Let me get out of here!”

”Confound this robe, I'm all tangled up in it!”

”My foot is caught! Help me, won't you?”

Such were some of the cries that arose, as, in a bunch, the boys tried to get out of the sawdust pit. All succeeded but Buster Beggs, who, while on the rim of the pit, slipped and fell back,--just as another brace snapped, and the ponderous wooden slide sagged still more.

”Help me!” yelled Buster. ”Don't leave me, fellows!”

”Here, give me your hand!” cried Dave, turning back, and as the hand was thrust towards him, he gave a jerk that brought Buster out in a hurry.

By this time most of the boys had run to a safe distance, and Dave and Buster lost no time in following.

”All here?” demanded Ben. The lanterns had been left behind, so that they could see only with difficulty.