CHAPTER XXIII.
"FOUR OF US ARE PIN-HEADS!" "Oh, you fellows have spoiled it!" groaned Dave as he joined last of all in the chase.
From the tent to the cleft rock was perhaps a hundred and twenty yards.
For such sprinters as these members of the Gridley High School eleven it did not require much time to cover the distance.

Yet, by the time that Danny Grin, in the lead, had reached the further side of the rock there was no sign of the presence of the Man with the Haunting Face.
"You dreamed it, Dave," charged Greg Holmes.
"No, I didn't, either," muttered Darrin, joining the group of puzzled youngsters.

"I saw the face as plainly and positively as I see any of your faces." "It's hard to believe that," muttered Tom, shaking his head.
"I was wide awake, and my eyesight is good," Darry insisted.
"Then where has your man gone ?" asked Dick.

"If he had run to any point near here we would have found him." Dave Darrin began to pry about, looking for some concealed opening near the base of the cleft, rock.

He explored diligently, but could find no such clue as he had hoped.
"Nonsense! I'm going back to camp," declared Tom Reade.
"So'm I," Hazelton agreed.
"Dave can't have been mistaken," offered Greg.
"Thank you for one trusting soul," said Dave gratefully.
"But one thing I do know," Greg went on.
"What ?" asked Darry.
"Even if our strange fellow was here, he is here no longer, and moreover, he has succeeded in getting away without leaving any trace," young Holmes continued.