The night passed without incident except that Rogers did not call Gordon until nearly four o’clock and as a result received what he designated “a bawling out for fair.” Breakfast was an early meal as they were all on the anxious seat and were eager for action. So, as soon as the meal was over they held a council of war to decide what steps to take. “There’s one thing about it,” Rogers opened the discussion, “and that is that we’ve got to do something.” “Fact?” Gordon asked in a joking tone. “What I mean is that we’ve got to take the offensive,” Rogers explained. “The fact that he or they made no attack on us last night seems to indicate that they’re going to play a waiting game.” “And that doesn’t suit us at all,” Bill declared. “We want to get on with the work we came out here to do.” “Spoken like a soldier,” Gordon told him. “But we’ve got to keep away from the cliffs until we know it’s safe. As it is now they have all the advantage and we don’t want to stop any stones with our heads.” “Or with any other part of our anatomy for that matter,” Bill added. “How about taking a stroll along the top of them?” Gordon suggested. “We couldn’t find him or them with the help of the plane but maybe we can do it on foot.” “That’s what I was going to suggest,” Rogers said. “But I’m not sure as it will be safe,” he added soberly. “Well, I’d rather take a walk on the top of them than down below the way things stand now,” Gordon told him. “So would I,” Rogers told him, “but that doesn’t make it safe, you know.” “But I don’t believe the fellow, whoever it was, is armed,” Bill declared. “If he had been he’d have used his gun instead of a stone.” “That sounds reasonable, but it isn’t certain,” Rogers told him. “Well, there are only two certain things in this world, so I’ve heard, and they are death and taxes,” Gordon smiled. “But I think it’s a safe bet that he hasn’t got a gun,” Bill insisted. “All right, but we’ve got to be careful,” Rogers in turn insisted. “Now if you boys will stay here and guard the camp I’ll take a walk and see what I can find.” “Did you hear what I heard, Bill?” Gordon asked. “I heard something that doesn’t go,” Bill laughed. “Not an inch, it doesn’t. Say, Steve, just what do you take us for?” “Well, I only thought——” “Just turn your thoughts in another direction,” Gordon interrupted. “You know it doesn’t need but one to guard the camp.” “All right, all right. You two match to see who goes with me.” “How about all three of us matching to see who stays?” Bill suggested. But on that proposition Rogers put his foot down flat and nothing could change him. “No,” he declared, “I’ll take either one of you but I won’t stay here and let you both go and there’s no use in wasting time over it.” It was finally decided that Gordon would stay, and after cautioning him to keep his eyes open, Rogers and Bill started off.