“You fool!” snarled Crauthers. “Do you——” Then he stopped, for the signal was answered in a similar manner. Again the wondering boys looked at one another. “Our signal!” they said. “I thought I knew who yelled to us,” said Bunol, in satisfaction. “There is only one fellow at Fardale who knows our signal,” said Stark. “That’s Arlington!” declared Hogan. “He comes,” declared Bunol. “What? Chet Arlington coming here? Why——” “Somehow he think we may be here, and he comes,” said the Spaniard. Immediately Stark’s suspicions were reawakened. “It’s a put up job!” he declared. “He sent you here, Bunol, to listen to our plans, and now he is coming. Confound your treacherous skin, if you——” “Hold on!” spoke the Spanish lad, in a low tone. “Better go slow. I have nothing to do with him. I hate him. I prove it to you.” “Prove it now!” urged Crauthers. “This is your chance!” “How?” “Go out there and lay for him in the darkness. When he comes along, soak him! That’s the way to do it! I dare you to do it—I dare you!” “I’ll do it!” declared Miguel, at once, “Put out fire so he will not see. Quick!” Crauthers dashed aside the brands with his foot and began to stamp them out. “Hold on!” urged Stark. “I don’t know about this business. Better be careful, or we’ll all get into——” “He can’t prove a thing. If he’s alone, we are four to his one. If he is bringing any one here, it’s right to meet him and give it to him. Go on, Bunol.” Crauthers ground the dying embers beneath his feet, and the interior of the Den was plunged into darkness, save for the faint glow of a few coals. “You wait!” whispered Bunol, as he crouched to creep forth. “You see now how much friend I am to him! I prove it to you! I get even with him!” He still retained the club he had caught up from the pile of wood. Stark was apprehensive, but Crauthers was shaking with eagerness, being seized by an intense longing to join in the attack on Arlington. As they waited, the approaching person whistled again. “He’s crossing the tree-bridge!” palpitated Crauthers. “Bunol will be sure to be waiting for him when he reaches the ground on this side. Keep quiet!” They did not have to wait long. Soon they heard the sound of a sudden struggle, a muffled, broken cry, and a heavy fall. Their hearts beat painfully after a period of shocked stillness, and it was not without difficulty that they breathed. The night wind passed over the woods like a sigh. Hogan started to say something in a whisper, but he was checked, and they waited yet a little longer. Then the voice of Miguel Bunol, soft and steady, called to them. “Come out and see how I keep my word,” it said. “I prove to you I do not lie.” Still they hesitated. “What do you suppose the fool has done?” muttered Stark apprehensively. “I hope it’s nothing serious.” He was the first of the remaining trio to creep forth from the Den. The others followed him, and they found Bunol waiting in the path.