CHAPTER XXVIII
THE SECRET PASSAGE
“What shall we do?” asked Bob, greatly excited.
“Go down to him, of course,” answered Ned. “He may have someinformation for us.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” put in Jerry.
“Sure of what?” came quickly from Ned.
“Whether we ought to go down to him or not. He may be waiting for uswith a gun, hoping to get us into range so he can take a pop at us.”
“We’re in range now, as far as that goes,” declared Bob, glancing atthe barograph which gave their height. “We were up farther than thiswhen we were hit before.”
“That’s so,” assented Jerry. “I didn’t think about that. He would haveshot some time ago if that were his game. Well, we’ll take a chance.”
Nearer and nearer the aeroplane settled toward the great flat rock, onwhich the lone figure was now running to and fro. His clothes flappedin the breeze, as though in tatters and rags. He appeared greatlyexcited, and there was no question now but that he was franticallybeckoning to the boys to come to him.
“Who in the world is it?” murmured Jerry, trying to peer through thefloor window, but not being able to get a good view because of hisposition at the wheel.
“He doesn’t look like a cowboy,” said Bob.
“Then he can’t be one of the rustlers,” observed Ned. “For they’re allcowboys--of a sort.”
“He looks like a tramp, as nearly as I can make out,” suggested Jerry.
“Maybe a grub-staked miner who’s lost his way,” came from Bob. “This issure enough a lonesome place,” and he looked around the desolate valleyof which the lone figure seemed to be the only occupant. Nor was therea habitation of even the most humble sort to be seen.
“Who is he, and what does he want?” murmured Jerry over and over again,as he manipulated the wheel and levers.
“Where are you going to land?” asked Ned. “You’ll knock him off thatrock, if you don’t look out.”
“I think not,” returned Jerry, with a smile. “The rock is big enough toland on safely. And it will be a dandy spot to make a start from--it’sas level as a barn floor.”
They were now near enough to see faintly the unshaven face ofthe solitary man. His ragged clothes, too, gave him a grotesqueappearance, but for all his forlorn plight he seemed transported withjoy as the airship, now moving about in big circles, came closer andcloser.
“Who is he? And what does he want?” said Jerry, again.
And then, as the airship landed on the great flat rock, and came toa gentle, gliding stop, the strange figure rushed forward, cryinghoarsely.
“Boys! Oh, boys! I never was so glad to see anyone in my life! Oh,boys, at last I’ve found you!”
For perhaps three seconds none of the lads spoke. They stood looking atthe pathetic figure and then, as in one voice, they cried together inlow, awed tones:
“Professor Snodgrass!”
“Yes. Oh, boys! No wonder you hardly know me. I haven’t had a shave inso long that I must look like Rip Van Winkle. And as for my clothes!Oh, I’ve had a terrible time. And I’m hungry!”
“Good!” cried Bob, but he didn’t mean it just that way. “We’ve got lotsto eat!” he went on eagerly. “Come and have a square meal, Professor,and then tell us what happened. Did you get away from the cattlerustlers?”
“You mean the cattle thieves?” asked the professor.
“Well, thieves, rustlers--you can call ’em whatever you like,” laughedJerry. “But never mind talking now. We are delighted to see you!”
“No more than I am to see you.”
“We’ve been looking everywhere for you,” added Ned. “We’d about givenup. How’d you make your escape?”
“I hardly know. They kept me pretty closely guarded, for they took mefor a spy, I guess. But finally they weren’t so careful, and after Ihad let pass several chances to leave their camp, they began to think Iwas content to stay there.
“I would have been, too, for there were a lot of the rarest bugs I eversaw. But I wanted to get back to my friends, and so I hid away onenight and in the morning began a long tramp to find your ranch. But Ican’t tell it all to you now.”
“Of course not!” cried Jerry. “We’re crazy to stand here making youtalk when you’re starving.”
“I’ll get him something to eat!” volunteered Bob, hurrying toward theanchored airship.
“Yes, and I’d like to get rid of some of these whiskers and washmyself with soap,” said the professor, who was the most cleanly manimaginable. “I did manage to scrub with a little sand and water, but itwasn’t soap,” he cried.
“Come in then, and get fixed up,” urged Ned, laughing.
“Wait,” begged the professor. “I must not leave my specimens behind.They are too valuable.”
He hurried to the far end of the rock, where, in a niche, he hadsecreted several boxes and carrying cases made rudely from bark, heldtogether with twisted fibers.
“I didn’t dare bring my regular specimen boxes away with me,” heexplained to the boys, “or they would have suspected something. SoI had to leave them behind. But I hid them well and we can get themagain.”
“How?” asked Jerry.
“Oh, I can get them again if you’ll take me there, I’m sure. I canguide you to the secret camp of the cattle thieves, boys!”
“Hurray!” cried Ned. “Next to finding you this is the best news I’veheard yet! Come on, Professor!”
They helped him carry his precious specimens in their rude cases, whichhe had fashioned himself, into the airship cabin. There Bob was busywith the meal.
“Sorry we haven’t got more,” said the stout lad, indicating the tablewhich he had let down from where it had been folded up against the sidewall of the cabin. “But we won’t be long, now, in getting back to theranch.”
“Well, it isn’t such a small meal at that, Chunky,” laughed Jerry.“Did you put on all there was in the locker?”
“No, there’s a little more left, but not much; so we’ll have to goback.”
“But you’ll return for my specimens, won’t you?” pleaded the littlescientist.
“Oh, yes, we’ll come back after them--and the rustlers!” declared Jerry.
“Hope we can catch ’em,” sighed Ned.
“I think you can,” Professor Snodgrass said. “They are a bold butcareless lot. They fancy themselves safe, but I know their secret.”
“What is it?” asked Jerry, and his chums waited eagerly for theprofessor’s reply.
“There is a secret way out of the rocky ravine,” was the answer. “Iknow how to find it. I’ll tell you about it after I eat.”
“Yes, for the love of horse-radish let him eat!” cried Bob. “He must behalf starved.”
And the professor certainly seemed so, judging by the way he began atthe food, after he had made a hasty toilet with soap and water, whichhe said was almost as great a luxury as the soup and meat Bob setbefore him. The boys ate with him, for they, too, were hungry.
“And now for the story of your disappearance!” cried Jerry, whenappetites were satisfied, and they sat back on the lockers in comfort.