retort.

"I'll make a suggestion, young gentlemen," said the Professor.

"Yes, sir, what is it?" asked the boys in chorus.

"Pile up all the dry wood that Walter has gathered. Pile it right up
on the edge of the cliff and light it. I think that will make the
evening more cheerful for Master Tad down there."

"That will be fine," cried Walter.

Quickly carrying the dried wood to the place indicated, they piled it
so that it would make a long fire, then lighted it from three sides at
the same time.

The result was a bright blaze that flared high, lighting the rocks far
down into the canyon, but not sufficiently far to reach Tad.

"Trying to burn up the mountain?" shouted Tad.

"No; we're trying to burn it down, so we can pick you up," called Ned
Rector.

"Oh," came up from the depths.

"It seems to me that you young men are getting rather sharp with each
other," said the Professor, shaking his head.

"I guess it must be the Ozark air getting into our lungs," answered