“Oh, all right.  I like the letter, Cleo.  I was only wondering if we couldn’t forget that.  I’ll read the rest.  Where was I?  Oh, yes, now listen!” and she continued: 

“If there is any way we can help you or if you know any girls who would like to join our troop, please leave another letter in this same place.

“Very truly, three girls of true tred.”

There was no time to discuss the last few paragraphs, for Hal Crane was now seen flying along the macadam road.

“Be sure he knows just where to go,” Cleo warned Grace, who had sealed the letter and now stood waiting the courier.

“What’s the idea, anyhow?” demanded Hal.  “Isn’t the post-office good enough for your troop?”

“Oh, you see, Hal,” Grace explained, “maybe our friend can’t leave the woods.”

“Got something the matter that makes him hide out there, and you don’t mind exposing me to it?” Hal was laughing good-naturedly.  He evidently was just as keen on the adventure as were the girls.

“Now, you have promised to keep our secret, you know, Hal, and we are sure we will find out something awfully interesting if he answers this letter.”

“Suppose he gobbles me up?” returned the big boy, thrusting out his right arm expectantly.

“Oh, you know you have scoured and scouted these woods lots of times, and I suppose you know every squirrel by name,” Madaline said.  “But go on, Hal, and we’ll wait here for you till you come back.  There may be another letter under the stone,” and her cheeks fairly burned in anticipation.

“Well, so long!  Take a good look at me, girls.  Your cave man may turn me into a monkey or some other forest creature,” and waving his free hand, Hal Crane sped off like the modern boy-scout courier he was.

“Nothing could possibly happen to him, do you think?” Grace asked just a little anxiously.  The memory of her own thrilling experience in those woods had grown to something like a big black shadow that dragged from her the bag supposed to contain Mrs. Johnston’s wash.  And Grace also recalled the mysterious note pointed out the fact that the writer still held on to the historic piece of rope Grace had left around the figure at the tree, and, just suppose the man should take revenge on Hal!

“Oh, goosey!” Cleo replied to her expressed fear.  “Don’t you suppose a boy scout like Hal can take care of himself!  Why, when the men went out hunting for little Angelo Botana, Hal was the very bravest of all.  He even waded in the swamp knee deep when the men couldn’t manage the big drag nets.  Why, Hal is as strong as any man,” Cleo valiantly insisted.

It was not now a simple matter for the scout girls to occupy their time while awaiting the return of the messenger, even walking the stone wall, and jumping the breaks, usually a popular pastime, seemed flat and uninteresting now to them.