Hal Kenyon Disappears

get into trouble if they didn't quit gettin' so gay. Hal isn't a gay one, but

ntion to his words, for they knew his peculiarities and attached little importance to his grumbling. Nevertheless, Pepper believed all he said, and more. Only a few days earlier he had observed s

declared, as he strode along, breaking with a strong kick each of the "trips" that the mischievous youngsters

ld have liked to have made a smart reply to this diref

e was really a good-hearted and well-intending fellow, and no doubt did some of the boys considerable go

er. Although he was the one who called particular attention to the strange sound that seemed to issue from the waterfall, he did not regard it as seriously as did the others. He was thinking more of certain boys back at the school than of the mystery close at hand. True

ill of awe at the shrill sound from the waterfall. "Whether there's anything serious happened to Hal or n

talking vehemently now, articulating his words without reserve, for they

last preceding, but it was more thrilling, for they were closer. Every member of the sea

he water. What could they do? It was a most astonishing and unfat

eve of each of his companions a

ly by another wailing cry from the same source. Dr. Byrd did not turn bac

cuss the affair with trembling, hollow voice, his face showing white in the rays of the lante

epper experiencing a weakening of his kn

es again," as another scream, somewhat fainter than the last two, r

uggested Pepper. "You know there's said t

a commonsense explanation that ought to have occurred to any blockhead. Hence, wh

esit

inquired Mr

ot, what became of Hal?"

beast killed him?"

es

t have escaped the notice of some of us. Moreover, there'd have b

y? I'd face a hundred panthers to get Hal back safe. My! there's that

re do you suppose it is?" inquire

he waterfall somewhe

have been able to locate him when we

of the mountain. And the noise o' the water confuses th

that noise, and I'm in favor of makin

nced; "but before we proceed, I propose we

r. Porte

ht to beat off a panther wi

on," the doctor appro

pose admirably. Like the Boy Scouts, they too were supplied with large sharp jackknives, and in t

ocks. But they discovered nothing that suggested an explanation of the mystery. The screams continued to come, seemingly from the fall, but it was ridi

rvals of a minute or two. Finally, since the examination of the fall and the rocks near

trained every nerve in order to catch the sounds more distinctly. Observing his attitude as he leaned forward and put his hand cup-shaped b

el

The eager listeners turned to each other and nodded their heads significantly; then t

are you

s. Then Mr. Frankland and Pepper measured the strength of their vocal organs against the noise of the cataract with little better result. But Mr. Porter had a high, shrill

aterfall this time. They seemed to come in the form of a sentence, but only one was hea

But before they could conjecture an answer, there came a startling interruption t

enty feet away. Believing it to be Hal, he ran joyfully toward the boy and was followed by the other men. The obj

t asleep in the dormitory. And his countenance could hardly have been whiter if it ha

d Dr. Byrd; but he forgot that he was too near the cataract t

he roar of the waterfall, and Frank, the boa