g.

"For you, Professor," called Martha.

The voice that came to Professor Brierly over the wire had a break
in it. In the voice it was difficult to recognize the finely
modulated diction of Justice Isaac Higginbotham.

"For God's sake, Professor, come at once. Two of us were killed.
Come--" The voice ended in a croak and there was no more.

When it became apparent that the other had dropped his receiver,
Professor Brierly turned the crank until he got the attention of
the operator. It took a long time to be connected with the nearest
police officer.

Professor Brierly identified himself and said:

"Two men were killed in Justice Higginbotham's camp. You know
where that is?"

"Yes, sir."

"How soon can you have a man or two down there?"

"Hold the wire a moment, sir. I'll tell you." After a brief
interval the voice asked: "Are you there, sir?"

"Yes."

"We can have one man, perhaps two there in half an hour, sir."

"Very well. I was going down there. Will your man stop here for me
on the way down?"

"Yes, sir. This is at Mr. McCall's camp, is it not?"

"Yes."

"Good-by."

Professor Brierly now called up the Higginbotham camp for
additional details. The overhanging rock had fallen, carrying with
it the porch. The house was not much damaged. Professor Brierly
surmised that the one thing that saved the house was the weakness
with which the porch had been attached to the main building.

Chapter XIX

The swift boat bearing two police officers picked up Professor
Brierly and Matthews. McCall and Jimmy left immediately. The avid
horde of newspaper men had swooped down on the Higginbotham camp.
Only the fact that they had two red-coated men in the boat
enabled the old scientist and his assistant to get near the house.
A path was cleared and the four men went into the living-room
where the eight survivors, Jimmy Hale, McCall and as many
newspaper men and women as could find standing room were crowded.

The two officers with the help of two others who had arrived
cleared the room after considerable difficulty. The porch had been
shorn off the building as though it were done with tools. The huge
rock was nestling at the edge of the water.

Jimmy was surprised at the demeanor of the eight survivors. The
reaction had set in. Now that the worst had come, come right
before their eyes they took it with a sang-froid that was
surprising under the circumstances. Pride of race, the knowledge
that a great m