Part 31 (2/2)
”Nothing here, cap'n”
It was Boxer the scout who spoke For two hours he, Ben, and Luke Striker had been exa the cliff They could find footprints without nuone soive up the hunt ”He wasn't spirited away I've a good mind to make a hunt at the bottom of the cliff”
”As you will, cap'n But, remember, this air side o' the valley is full of rebs, and if they catch us--”
”We ot my eyes wide open,” put in Luke ”I reckon on it as how I can see as far as any on 'em, too”
The walk to the cliff had not been accomplished without difficulty
Twice had they co into the Filipino pickets, and once Luke had been al followed, but the alarle, and at a point within half atree!
The hunt had revealed to the party the series of rough steps mentioned in the last chapter, and down these they noent and continued their search at the base of the cliff
”What's this?” came from the old sailor, presently, and he pointed to the broken sapling hanging in the branches of the big tree With the sapling was a shred of a garnal of distress
A close examination caused them to reach a conclusion which was, as we already know, true; na and landed in the big tree
”And he wasn't killed, either,” said Boxer ”For here is where he built a fire and cooked sos”
”And he visited the pool, too,” added Ben, exa the tracks with care ”Funny tracks these,” he added, a second later
”He was hopping on one foot,” announced the scout, gravely ”That looks as if he had one leg hurt”
It was an easy round was damp and covered with awhere Larry had stopped to examine his ankle
”Hullo,”And rebs, too, I'll wager a new hat Cap'n, I'm afraid your brother has run into worse trouble”
”It certainly looks like it,” answered Ben ”Where do the footprints lead to?”
Where but back to the very rocks dohich they had come but a few hours before! Soon they were back at the top of the cliff again
Before leaving the valley Boxer studied the footprints closely, and now, although there were other footprints above, he followed the party having Larry in charge without le error But it was sloork, and the encahtfall
”We've tracked 'eo any further, cap'n--unless you are ready to do so if it's necessary,” answered Ben, with a determined look on his face which was not to be mistaken ”I should like to make sure my brother is here”
”We'll walk around the camp and see,” said Boxer, and this they did, slowly and cautiously, each with his weapons ready for i their suppers and sarettes, and did not discover them
”There's Larry!” cried Luke, after a while And he pointed to one side of the caeneral to be sentenced
”Yes, yes!” answered Ben He handled his pistol nervously He could hardly restrain hi lost Boxer saas in his mind and held him back
”Don't be rash, cap'n,” whispered the scout ”If you are, it may cost all of us our lives”