“You didn’t meet a live bear?” Dan asked.
Red shook his head and took a deep breath. “I—I saw a fire through the trees,” he informed his listeners.
“A fire?” Mr. Holloway repeated. “In the forest? That could be serious if it spread. So many cabins and cottages are situated near the park preserve. Fires aren’t permitted at night, and in daytime only with written permission of the warden.”
“That’s why I started off to find out about it,” Red said quickly. “I thought if anyone had left a fire unwatched, the Cubs ought to know about it.”
“Where did you see the fires?” Mr. Hatfield cut in. “Near the ravine?”
“Yes, but it wasn’t unattended. When I got there—oh, gee!—it scared me half out of my wits. I was afraid to go very close.”
“Get to the point, Red,” Mr. Holloway urged impatiently. “What did you see?”
“A fire had been built on a shelf of the ravine. It was blazing up high against the rocks, making the whole cliff wall illuminated. A man, who was wrapped in a blanket, sat there. His back was to me so I didn’t see his face.”
“What’s so frightening about that?” Brad demanded. “Was that all you saw?”
“I’m coming to the important part,” Red went on breathlessly. “Near the fire—on the clay wall—I saw another face—a huge one.”
“Sure you didn’t imagine it?” asked Mr. Hatfield dryly.
“It was real as anything,” Red insisted. “The face was as big as a house and it sort of leered out at me. Oh, it was weird with the firelight throwing crazy shadows over the cliff wall! I took one look and beat it back here!”
“I did not!” Red denied furiously. “I’ll show you if you want me to!”
“It’s late now,” Mr. Hatfield said. “The Cubs are waiting at the house.”
“I’d like to prove that I’m right. Honest, I didn’t imagine it!”
“You can show us the face tomorrow—by daylight,” the cubmaster replied.
“It will be all right,” scoffed Brad. “And that man you saw by the fire too! I’ve explored every trail in the metropolitan park and never came upon any giants.”
“The face didn’t look human,” Red described it nervously. “It sort of loomed out of the wall—huge eyes.”
“Yes, they were, and you needn’t rub it in! I saw the face, and I’m willing to prove it if anyone will give me a chance!”
“You’ll have your chance tomorrow,” Mr. Hatfield soothed him. “Odd though, about that fire.”