were to pick up your call and listen in there'd be trouble."

"Right," said Bob. "But if Dave answers the signal, I'll have to ask
for father, because Dave doesn't understand the code."

It was Dave Morningstar who answered, the other ex-cowboy employed as
mechanic and guard at Mr. Hampton's radio plant in New Mexico. And
when he had tuned to the proper pitch to hear distinctly and Bob's
voice greeted him he was so surprised he stuttered and was incapable
for a moment of coherent speech. Then he began to pour a flood of
questions at Bob, wanting to know where he was, how he happened to be
able to radio, what had happened to the boys, why Tom Bodine, his
partner, had failed to return, and so on. But Bob cut him short.

"Stop it, Dave," he said. "We may be overheard. Call father to the
telephone, so I can speak in code. Then I'll explain."

Fortunately, although it was past noon, Mr. Temple was at hand. So
anxious was he about the boys that he had been unable to sleep during
the night. All morning, despite the belief that it was folly to expect
to hear from the lads so early, he had stayed at the radio plant. Now,
when he heard his son's voice, there was heartfelt thanksgiving in his
reply.

"Is it really you, Bob?" he asked, speaking in code. "I must have
been insane to let you three lads go off on such a foolish venture. I
have been tortured with anxiety every minute since you left. Tell me
where you are and what has happened. And how in the world is it
possible for you to radio? Are you all right?"

"Yes, we're all right, Dad," answered Bob, and there was a good deal
of emotion in his voice, too. The big fellow and his father were real
pals. "Don't you worry, Dad," he added. "We're doing well, thank you."

Then he retailed their adventures from the time of crossing the border
into Old Mexico and leaving Tom Bodine at the boundary. There were
many interruptions from his father.

"Thank heaven," said the latter, when learning that Tom Bodine had
followed the boys and joined them. "He's a trustworthy chap, and to
know that he is with you makes me breathe more easily."

When he came to relate the fight in the cave, Bob diplomatically made
little of it. He felt there was nothing to be gained by unnecessarily
harrowing the feelings of his father. The latter's anxiety, however,
was great and he pumped rapid questions at his son which Bob could not
avoid answering. The result was that Mr. Temple gained a fairly
accu