"

Giraffe might have felt like rebelling, because he hated the worst
kind to lose a single word of that mighty interesting exchange of
signals; but Thad, as usual, had been wise enough to coat the order
with a little subtle flattery that served as oil to lubricate matters.
Since none of the other scouts could be trusted to select the right
kind of torch necessary for signaling purposes, why, of course Giraffe
must sacrifice all other personal desires, for the common good. And so
he walked toward the fire, though most of the time that long neck of
his kept "rubbering" backward, so as to give him something of a chance
to see what came next on the programme.

"Who are you?" Thad waved upward, each letter being clear and
distinct; for the scout leader knew the folly of running them into one
another, and confusing the receiving end of the battery.

"Aleck Rawson!"

When Thad had spelled this out, various exclamations arose from the
boys.

"Rawson--why, that was the name of the man who found the silver mine
up in this country, wasn't it, Toby?" cried Davy Jones, voicing the
thought that had flashed into the mind of every boy just then.

"It sure was," replied the guide.

"Can this be him, then; has he been a prisoner all these years?"
gasped Smithy; at which there was a scornful laugh from the others.

"His name wa'n't Aleck; near as I kin remember 'twas Jerry," said Toby.

"P'raps, suh, he had a son?" suggested Bob White.

"Just what I was going to remark," added Allan, eagerly.

The intelligence that had come to them in that last reply had created
a sensation among the scouts. Indeed, even Thad was so astonished that
for the moment he could not find words in which to continue the
interesting conversation by fire.

Then his torch expired.

"Hurry Giraffe, and fetch me that other light!" he called; but there
was hardly any need of saying this, because the party in question was
already advancing by kangaroo-like leaps, covering ground in a manner
simply miraculous.

"What was that last he said?" he demanded, and Step Hen made haste to
answer, partly because he wanted to stagger the tall scout; and then
perhaps he realized that Giraffe would really give them no peace
until he was told:

"Said his name was Aleck Rawson--remember what Toby told us about the
man who found the mine long years ago! Well, this might happen to be
his boy, we think."

"Keep still! Thad's going to talk some more!" grumbled Bumpus.