ried.

Accordingly Frank secured the acetyline lamp and having lighted the
same, stood out where his actions could surely be seen by some of the
anxious watchers in Bloomsbury. Then he started to wave the light
slowly but methodically, so as to induce some sort of reply.

After about ten minutes he called out to Andy and the others:

"One of the Scouts is starting to answer with a lantern. And now to
try and make him understand that the whole four of us are up here safe,
and will stay until morning."

Even the groaning Percy managed to crawl to the mouth of the crevice to
watch operations. Frank persisted until he knew that his message had
been understood, for the answer had come "O. K."

"Now we can take things more comfortably, because we know they won't be
worrying about us," he said.

But that was a night never to be forgotten. Nobody obtained much
sleep, for what with the novelty of their situation, the hard rock
underneath, and the almost constant complaints of Percy, who was really
in great pain, they watched the stars in their wonderful procession
toward the west until finally dawn began to appear.

As soon as it was fairly light Frank got busy. He examined his biplane
in the most thorough manner; for it would never do to have a slip, once
he quitted the safety of the plateau. Rather than take chances he
would have waited until help had arrived at the bottom of the cliff,
with a rope which could be hauled up by means of a cord; or carried up
the chipped footholds by an agile lad like Larry.

But he found that his machine could be readily put in apple-pie
condition. The sun was up before things were ready. Percy declined to
be the first to accompany him, for some reason or other, so Andy went.

The trip to Bloomsbury was made without a single hitch; and great was
the rejoicing when they landed on the commons. But remembering his
promise Frank did not linger. He succeeded in transporting Sandy the
next trip; and that worthy made haste to lose himself in the crowd
without even thanking his rescuer.

Last of all Percy was carried to his home. Frank could not land in the
Carberry yard on account of the trees; but he did close by; and as the
injured boy's mother, as well as a score of others, were eagerly
waiting, there would be little difficulty in getting Percy indoors.

"I suppose I ought to thank you, Frank, for this," said the injured boy
with a half surly look on his face, which, however,