"Darn the luck!" said this dark figure. "Busted my tire, sure as shootin'!"
"Copernicus Droop!" cried Rebecca, in a loud voice.
Droop jumped high in the air, so great was his nervousness. Then, realizing that it was Rebecca who had addressed him, he limped toward her, rolling his bicycle beside him.
"How in creation did you get here?" he asked. "Ain't any steam-cars 'round here, is there?"
"Guess not!" Rebecca replied. "I come by short cut up river. I guessed you'd make fer the Panchronicle, and I jest made up my mind to come, too. Thinks I, 'that Copernicus Droop ud be jest mean enough to fly away all by himself an' leave me an' Phoebe to shift fer ourselves.' So I'm here to go, too--an' what's more, we've got to take Phoebe!"
"How'll ye find yer sister, Cousin Rebecca?" said Droop. "We must git out to-night. When the Queen gets on her ear like that, it's now or never. Can you find Cousin Phoebe to-night?"
"Where is the old machine, anyhow?" Rebecca asked, not heeding Droop's question.
"Right over yonder," said he, pointing to a dark group of trees a few rods distant.
"Well, come on, then. Let's go to it right away," said Rebecca. "I'd like to rest a bit. I'm tired!"
"Tired!" Droop exclaimed. "What about me, then?"
Without further parley, the two set off toward the grove which Droop had indicated. Having dwelt here for several weeks, he knew his bearings well, but it was not until they came much nearer to the deserted mansion that Rebecca recognized several landmarks which convinced her that he had made no mistake.
Under the trees, the shadows were so black that they were unable to find the breach in the wall.
"Got any matches, Cousin Rebecca?" Droop asked.
"Yes. Wait a minute an' I'll strike a light. I know that blessed hole is somewhere right near here."
She found again her card of matches, and breaking off one of them, soon had a tiny taper which lit up their surroundings wonderfully.
"There 'tis! I've found it," cried Droop, and, taking Rebecca by the arm, he led her toward the broken place in the wall. The match went out just as they reached it.
Droop was about to suggest that he go in first to see if all was well, when he was startled by Rebecca's hand on his arm.
He listened and distant cries coming nearer through the night were borne to his ears.