Again did the fire signaling go on; and the new torch selected by the
expert Giraffe proved even better that the one that had burned out.
Letter by letter did Thad send a long message, and Allan spelled it
out as it progressed; so that by the time it was completed every one
knew just what had been flashed upward toward the unseen receiving
party above.

"Can we get up to where you are?"

Now the fiery finger in the darkness began to write an answer; every
letter was plainly carried out, so that not in a signal instance did
Thad "trip up" as he read it aloud.

"Yes, but come quick--bring rope--might fall any minute!"

"I bet you he's hanging on to a little narrow shelf of rock!" declared
Bumpus.

"But if he is, how in the dickens could he get the fire to signal
with; that's what bothers me?" muttered Giraffe.

"Where are you?" signaled the scoutmaster, promptly, thinking to get
all the information possible while the chance remained.

"On a ledge part way down the cliff," answered the one who had said
his was Aleck Rawson.

"How did you get there?" went on Thad.

"Lowered here, and left to die like a dog," came the stunning answer.

"Did you ever hear the equal of that?" cried out Bumpus. "Now what
sort of people could ever be guilty of such a horrible thing as that,
I'd like to know?"

"Oh!" remarked the guide, "they's a heap of bad men around these parts,
I tell ye; but I got a notion I kin see through a board that's got a
knot-hole in it. Ask him who put him there, Mr. Scout Master, please?"

Thad would have done this, even though Toby had not spoken; indeed, he
was even then about to start putting the question.

"Who put you there?"

"Colonel Knocker did--will you come and get me?"

"The old villain!" gasped Bumpus. "He ought to be tarred and feathered
for such a wicked piece of work. What d'ye suppose he did it for? I
wonder now, if this same Aleck Rawson could know anything about the
secret of that hidden mine; and Cracker-jack John just wants to
torture him till he tells?"

"That sounds like it, Bumpus; you're good at guessing things, after
all," remarked Step Hen.

"Keep still, back there; Thad's sending another message!" warned
Giraffe.

And in his steady way, the scoutmaster went on to flash back the
reassuring words:

"Yes, we will come to you. Hold on! It may take us some time. Start
right away!"

"Thank you!" came from above, and then the light that had moved
backward and forwar