But simultaneously there came a sound of ripping, tearing and splintering and the lock of the door, shot clean out by the heavy charge, clattered down to the floor on the inside of the room.
An instant later Joe Digby, pale and trembling from privation, surprise and happiness all mingled in one, was in the midst of his friends and fellow scouts.
"I don't know what made me think of it," he explained in answer to eager questions about the smoke telegraph message.

"It was what the books call an inspiration, I guess.

There were plenty of loose boards--fragments of old packing cases lying about, and luckily they had not taken my matches.

I built a blaze and then, while it was still smoldering, I covered it with an old strip of sacking that I wetted with some water out of the bottle they left me." "It made about as good a signal, as one could want," responded Rob warmly, "but now tell us about your capture, Joe, how did it happen ?" "Why, you see," exclaimed the lad, his voice growing stronger as he proceeded, "I was just thinking it was about time to wake my relief when I heard a rustling noise in the bushes back of the camp.

I walked up there to investigate, for I thought it might be some animals--maybe the captain's pigs." "Keel haul them lubberly swine," from the captain.
"But, as you shall hear, I was mistaken.