Hastening in this manner toward the spot where the first trap had been set, they speedily discovered that the overhanging tree bore strange fruit.  Something grotesque was swinging violently back and forth.  It was a human figure, but hardly recognizable as such, on account of the fact that it now hung head downward, with one leg firmly gripped by the tenacious slip-noose, and the other, together with a pair of wildly flung arms, cutting all sorts of eccentric circles through the air.

Never in all their varied experiences had Max and his three comrades looked on a more remarkable spectacle than the one by which they were now greeted.  The man’s face could not be plainly seen on account of his coat sagging down partly over his head, so they could not immediately tell what he looked like; but he certainly possessed a bull-like voice that, properly trained for opera use might have won him a fair amount of fame and money, for it was more than usually lusty.

He seemed to divine the fact that those in the cabin must have rushed out in answer to his shouts.  Perhaps he detected the light they carried with them; or it might be Steve’s loud cries caught his strained hearing at such times as his own breath temporarily failed him.

“Help me, somebody, why don’t yuh?  I’m strangling to death, I tell yuh.  All the blood’s running to my head!  I’m seeing a million stars already, and I’ll die if yuh don’t cut me down.  Hurry! hurry, please do, somebody!”

Obed looked to Max to say what ought to be done, for already he seemed to have come under the magical sway of the other’s leadership.

“Take hold of him, and tie his hands behind his back before you think to let him down!” was the sensible advice given by Max.

Thereupon Obed instantly produced some heavy cord and started operations.  While the boy deftly worked, the man continued to plead, trying to claw at him also; but Obed managed to get his job completed notwithstanding the interruptions.  He was at the same time telling the unfortunate man to keep quiet, and he would be let down presently.

Steve stood by, gun in hand.  He was casting uneasy looks around as though suspecting that if the fellow had companions near by, as seemed likely, and they should, recovering from, their alarm attempt his rescue, it might be his duty to stand them off one and collectively.

Bandy-legs and Toby sprang to where the man dangled.  Max was already at the side of Obed.

“All ready, Obed?” he was heard to say.

“I’ve spliced his hands up in good style, Max,” came the reply.

“Good enough.  Now, Toby and Bandy-legs, take hold of him, and lift when I give you the word.  I’ll slip the rope off his ankle, and you turn him right side up.  Now, go to it, both of you—­yo-heave-o!”

It was quickly done, and the man, upon finding himself placed once more on his feet, staggered; indeed, he was so “groggy” after his recent strange experience at swimming in thin air, that only for the supporting arm of Max he would have fallen flat.