d, up and down, and around in eccentric circles,
vanished, as though with that last word the torch, if that was what it
was, had been exhausted.

But at least it had served long enough to bear a startling message to
the boys of the Silver Fox Patrol, camping there in the valley of the
great Rockies.

"Now what?" exclaimed the impatient Giraffe.

Somehow, not one of them gave the waiting supper a single thought just
then; for this new and exciting diversion had made them utterly forget
such a thing as being hungry.

"I want several of you to go along with me," said Thad; "Toby for one,
because of his strong arms, in case we have to do any lifting; also
Giraffe; and Allan, perhap you'd like to be in the party also?"

"I certainly would," declared the Maine boy instantly; "if you think I
can be spared from the camp."

"Oh!" said Thad, "they'll get on all right here, because every fellow
will be put on his honor not to stray away from the fire while we're
gone. Bumpus, please let me have that rope you carry with you. It's
proved valuable several times already, and may come in all right again."

Bumpus had a very queer idea, in that he persisted in carrying a thin,
braided rope wrapped around his body. It was of the sash cord species,
slender, but extra strong. Bumpus had seen the great need of a rope
once or twice, and made up his mind that he would never be without
one, when abroad in the woods or wilderness. And it had proven useful
to him too; in fact, but for its possession Bumpus might not have been
there, so blithe and happy, at that very moment. Having unfortunately
become mired in a slimy mudhole when lost in the big timber, he was
slowly sinking on account of his desperate efforts to get out, when he
happened to notice the convenient limb of a tree just a couple of feet
over his head; and remembering his rope, he had thrown it, doubled,
over the same; and by making a tremendous spurt, managed to drag his
feet out of the sucking mud, climbing to safety.

And of course after that nothing could ever induce the fat scout to
think of abandoning that precious rope.

So he started to unwind it now; and as if this might be a signal for
some of the boys to assist, they seized hold of Bumpus, pulling at the
rope, until they had him whirling around in a dizzy fashion,
protesting all the while, but without any avail. Finally the rope was
wholly unwound, and Bumpus found himself sitting there on the ground,
with the