"Yes, I know. Well, to begin with, before I found the moccasin track
I noticed that there was room to walk along by the side of the stream.
When the moon came up, not being able to sleep, for some reason--I
guess it was on account of the water that made such a racket, I
thought I'd look around a bit. After I got started I kept on going
and going, and the further I went the less steep did the banks
appeared--"

"How far did you go?" interrupted the Professor.

"I haven't the slightest idea."

"I presume you found no great change in the topographic features of--"

Tad laughed good-naturedly.

"I was trying to get out, Professor. Finally, I found a place that
looked good and after I had scrambled up some fifteen feet I
discovered that I had struck a trail. It had been in use not long
since. What for I cannot imagine. The rest was very easy. I reached
the top of the cliff just after daylight."

"How--how did you find your way back?" wondered Stacy.

"I followed along the ridge. After a while I saw the smoke from your
camp-fire, then I hurried in and here I am."

"You always were a lucky fellow," laughed Ned. "Now if that had been
myself I should have been down there yet, or else in the river or
whatever you call that stream down there."