Frank's story was such an interesting one that the three chums felt as though they never could stop asking questions. They particularly wanted to know about Mr. Roscoe's detention among the cannibals, but of that Frank could tell little.
"We were too busy talking of the present to dip much into the past," he said. "Besides, I had only a very little time. I was interrupted so often. I don't know all of the story yet, but I will in time. This Dr. Hardman is one of the chief conspirators. It's lucky I wore the glasses so he didn't recognize me at first or I'd never have gotten as far along as I did. I guess he didn't have a good look at me that day in the woods."
"I wonder what his game was, having us take him to the forest?" asked Bart.
"Probably he wanted to be sure that none of his patients could escape from the sanitarium and get to Darewell that way," suggested Frank. "I believe Dr. Hardman had an idea my father might try to find me, and wanted to be assured that if he tried it he would get lost in the forest."
"I believe you're right," said Bart.
"Well, you certainly worked this up in great shape," commented Ned. "We couldn't understand what ailed you. I began to think you were a bit crazy yourself."
"I don't blame you," Frank replied with a smile. "I certainly did have a lot on my mind, and the way I acted must have seemed strange to you boys. But I'm glad part of it is over. When I have my father with me again I will be perfectly happy. Just think of it, boys, living all these years, and never knowing I had a father, and then suddenly to find I've got one! It's just like a story in a book, isn't it."
"It beats lot of books!" declared Fenn. "I wonder if those cannibals tried to eat him?"
"He doesn't look as though he had been boiled or roasted," Frank answered, "though he is not a well man, from all the trouble he has had. But wait until we rescue him!"
"That's what I was going to ask you. How are you going to do it?" inquired Ned.
"I have a plan partly worked out," replied Frank. "He and I talked it over. I am to get a long ladder and place it at his window the first dark and rainy night we have. We agreed it would be better to try it when there was a storm, as, if we make any noise, it will not attract so much attention."
"That's a good idea," commented Bart. "Where are you going to get the ladder?"
"I guess Mr. Armstrong has one he would let us take."
"How are you going to get it to the sanitarium? It's a good way off."
"I thought maybe you'd assist me about that part," spoke Frank. "I've got to have help."
"Of course you have," declared Ned. "Now I have an idea. We can take that ladder to the woods near the sanitarium on the back of a donkey. Mr. Armstrong has one. It's about the only way we could transport it, as the trails are too narrow for a wagon. We can fix it on the donkey's back lengthwise, and he can go through narrow places that way."
"Then what?" asked Fenn.
"We'll hide the ladder in the woods, close to the edge of the asylum grounds, and, the first stormy night that comes we'll go there and rescue Mr. Roscoe."
"Do you know where his room is?" asked Bart.
"Yes, it's number twenty-eight; one of the outside apartments and easy to reach with a ladder. We agreed on a signal. When I throw three pebbles at his window, wait a bit and throw two more, he is to raise the sash. Fortunately there are no bars to his window, as he is not regarded as a violent patient. The only thing I am afraid of is that he may have one of his insane spells just as we are about to rescue him. That would raise an alarm, and the plan might fail."
"We'll hope for the best," said Bart, cheerfully, "Now let's go all over the details and arrange our campaign. This is the first time I ever helped in a raid on a sanitarium."
"I hope it will be the last," spoke Frank. "It's a sad-enough thing, and I only wish it was over."
"Cheer up," counseled Fenn. "You've had it pretty hard, carrying that secret all alone. Now we're going to help you; aren't we, fellows?"
"That's what we are!" chorused Bart and Ned, and at that Frank smiled. He seemed to have lost much of the gloom that had enveloped him for the past few weeks.
"Well, let's get to work," suggested Ned. "The sooner this thing is done the better. The weather has been fine for the past week, and it's liable now to rain soon. In fact, I think a storm is brewing," and he looked up through the trees to the sky.
It was becoming overcast, and the direction of the wind had changed. Ned's chums agreed with him it would be best to lose no time.
"Fenn and I will go over to Mr. Armstrong's house this afternoon," said Bart. "We'll find out about the ladder and the donkey."
"There's another thing to be thought of," said Ned. "What are you going to do with your father when you get him, Frank?"
"I did have an idea I would take him to the hotel in Lockport."
"I wouldn't do that," said Ned. "That will be the first place they will look for him. Why not bring him here?"
"It would be too long a journey through the woods," objected Fenn. "Especially if he isn't well, and it's raining."
"I have it!" cried Frank. "The canoe!"
"The canoe isn't built for land travel," remarked Bart.
"No, but it can go on the creek and river all the way to the sanitarium," said Frank. "I know, for I tried it." Then he told his chums of the night journey he had made.
"I was right then," commented Ned, and he related how he suspected Frank had made a journey in the craft.
"One of us might paddle the canoe to the foot of the cliff," went on Frank. "I can take my father to it, and put him into the boat."
"That's a good idea," agreed Bart. "I never thought our canoe would be of such service."
"It's a fine craft," Frank said. "It only leaks a little bit."
"Then you and I will patch it up this afternoon when Bart and Fenn go after the ladder," said Ned. "We can finish by night, and then, the first thing in the morning, we'll get the donkey and start through the woods. We'll have to do that part of it by daylight, as we can't see at night. But I guess it's safe, as there is no one in the woods."
Things were very different in the camp than they had been a few hours previously. Now there was hope and activity, while, before, there had been gloom and apprehension.
After dinner Bart and Fenn went to Mr. Armstrong's house, while Ned and Frank busied themselves over the canoe. They patched it up, strengthened it in weak places, and made it ready for the journey. It was decided that Frank had better make the trip in the boat to the foot of the cliff, as he knew the stream better than the other three.
"There, I guess that will do," observed Ned, as he daubed a bit of pine gum on a small crack. "I'll wager it doesn't leak a drop. The paddle is better than when you first made the trip, Frank."
"I'm glad of it. It was so rough before it blistered my hands."
In the meanwhile Bart and Fenn had reached Mr. Armstrong's house. They found the farmer had a long, light ladder, and was willing to let them take it.
"Hope you aren't going t' rob an apple orchard or raid a hen roost," he said with a laugh.
"Nothing like that," Bart assured their friend. "Now if you'll lend us your donkey we'll be much obliged."
"My donkey! Good land! Are you going t' start a circus and have the donkey do tricks?"
"Not exactly," Bart replied, and then, thinking it was only fair to explain why they wanted the ladder and the animal, the boys told Mr. Armstrong something of Frank's story. The farmer was in sympathy with them at once.
"I wish I could help you," he said eagerly. "Can't I go 'long?"
"We're much obliged," replied Bart, "but I guess we can do better alone. We're thankful for the ladder and the donkey."
"Maybe you'll be sorry you took the beast," Mr. Armstrong added. "He's tricky, but he can't do much with the ladder on his back. It's a great idea. Now if you want any more help let me know."
The boys promised that they would, and, bidding the farmer good-day they started off. The ladder was fastened to the donkey's back lengthwise, and rested on a pile of bagging so that it would not injure the animal. The front end stuck well up into the air, while the rear nearly dragged on the ground.
The path from the farmhouse to the camp was a fairly good one, and the boys had no difficulty in leading the donkey along. The beast went quietly enough, and Fenn remarked:
"I guess Mr. Armstrong didn't know how to treat this donkey. He's as gentle as a lamb."
"You're not out of the woods yet," observed Bart, which was true in a double sense.
However, they reached the camp without a mishap, and found Ned and Frank waiting for them.
All books are sourced from Project Gutenberg