d flopped down
behind the flower bed. Their footprints were there in the soil
to show it. By this time all hands were ready to believe that
a high school senior hadn't been up to such baby stuff, and Mr.
Ritchie apologized to me. I was pretty stiff about it, though,
and told Mr. Ritchie that I would consult with my parents before
I'd decide to let such an outrageous assault pass without making
trouble for my assailants."

"What did your folks say about it?" pressed Danny Grin eagerly.

"Dalzell, aren't you the little innocent?" asked Reade, with
good-humored scorn. "Of course I never said anything to my folks
about such a foolish adventure as that. But I'll wager that I left
Mr. Ritchie worried for just the next few days. Now, you fellows
know the whole yarn---and I don't think much of Dick's way of
buncoing me out of it, either."

"Don't all turn at once," said Dave in a very low tone, "but,
behind you, through the fork in the cleft rock, the Man with the
Haunting Face is staring this way. Be careful, and we may-----"

But, as if shot from spring guns, all five of the others were
up on their feet and running fast toward that strange man who
had furnished their lake mystery without solving it.

CHAPTER XXIII

"FOUR OF US ARE PIN-HEADS!"

"Oh, you fellows have spoiled it!" groaned Dave as he joined last
of all in the chase.

From the tent to the cleft rock was perhaps a hundred and twenty
yards.

For such sprinters as these members of the Gridley High School
eleven it did not require much time to cover the distance. Yet,
by the time that Danny Grin, in the lead, had reached the further
side of the rock there was no sign of the presence of the Man
with the Haunting Face.

"You dreamed it, Dave," charged Greg Holmes.

"No, I didn't, either," muttered Darrin, joining the group of
puzzled youngsters. "I saw the face as plainly and positively
as I see any of your faces."

"It's hard to believe that," muttered Tom, shaking his head.

"I was wide awake, and my eyesight is good," Darry insisted.

"Then where has your man gone?" asked Dick. "If he had run to
any point near here we would have found him."

Dave Darrin began to pry about, looking for some concealed opening
near the base of the cleft, rock. He explored diligently, but
could find no such clue as he had hoped.

"Nonsense! I'm going back to camp," declared Tom Reade.

"So'm I," Hazelton agreed.

"Dave can't have been mistake