ould read the signs, and listen to the talk,
wouldn't it? P'raps now we'd learn something to our advantage," the
Southern lad went on, longingly.

"Well, as we haven't got the code book," laughed the scoutmaster, "that
would be a pretty hard job, I take it."

"But still," Bob continued, with a shade of entreaty in his voice that
was hard to resist, "I take it that you could give a guess that would
come pretty nigh the truth, if you cared to try, Thad."

"Well, I don't know about that," replied the other scout; and then
adding, as he realized that Bob was grieved: "I'm willing enough to make
a try, if you think it would pay. Let's see, first of all, where these
fellows are located who are doing all this communicating."

"There's one on the side of the mountain over yonder," declared Bob;
"then that's a second fellow across the valley; you can see his lantern
or torch dipping every which way; now he's stopped, as if he'd been
asking more questions. And Thad, seems to me, the one that's doing the
heft of the jabbering is located down yonder. Like as not the
information's coming from him."

"That's across the valley, Bob?" remarked Thad.

"You're correct, suh; somewhere neah the place from which I was chased
away not more than two hours back. That's where the cabins lie."

"And that's where Nate and the other mountain man took Cliff Dorie,"
continued the scoutmaster. "Now, you can put things together yourself,
if only you think, Bob. Don't you see that Nate is probably telling
these other fellows all about what happened to Cliff. And I certainly do
hope he doesn't forget to give us our due in the matter, for it would go
a great way toward making these rough men our friends. You know only too
well what that would mean, Bob. Friends with Phin Dady just now might be
the means of giving you back your father."

Bob sighed heavily as he started on again, urged by a desire to come
upon Polly as soon as possible, and learn the truth, no matter whether
the news proved a disappointment, or not.

But in his haste he forgot the caution Thad was trying always to instill
in his mind; for stumbling presently, he found himself toppling over an
unknown abyss that lay in the darkness, so that its extent could not be
seen.

Thad had kept very close to his heels, and was prepared for something
like this, so that he acted from impulse, there being not a second to
give to thinking.

CHAPTER XXIV.

THE CLOCK IN THE SKY.