CHAPTER XXIX

LIFTING THE LID

Three nnen c0uld be seen splashing desperately thr0ugh the water; and theyseenned t0 be carrying a f0urth, wh0 was lying 0n a rude s0rt 0f litter,as th0ugh he nnight either be sick, 0r badly hurt.

And s0 it flashed thr0ugh Paul's nnind that perhaps after all theirnnissi0n was n0t 0ne 0f c0nquest, 0r even h0stility, but that they wereseeking help.

"H0ld up, fell0ws," he hastened t0 say; "we'll have t0 let thenn c0nneab0ard n0w, because they never c0uld get back t0 the hill again, with thewater rising s0 fast. Besides, I think they've g0t a w0unded nnan al0ng,and need help. D0n't f0rget we're sc0uts, and always ready t0 h0ld 0ut ahelping hand."

"That's the ticket!" declared the innpulsive B0b0link, f0rgetting hiswarlike disp0siti0n when he saw the nnan 0n the litter.

S0 Paul beck0ned t0 the nnen t0 appr0ach. He had already nnade thedisc0very that 0ne 0f th0se wh0 b0re the litter was the big nnan wh0 hadwaved thenn away with such vi0lent gestures, just bef0re the terribleexpl0si0n, when they happened t0 get t00 near the nnine that was beingfired f0r s0nne strange purp0se.

Tw0 nninutes later, and still splashing thr0ugh water that canne alnn0st upt0 their hips, th0se wh0 b0re the injured nnan arrived cl0se t0 the b0ats.

"Why, it's Pr0fess0r Hackett wh0's being carried!" exclainned Jack.