Well aware that the other Cubs shared his eagerness to view the carved clay face once more, the Den Chief hiked directly to the ravine.
The air felt cool and damp as they emerged from the woods, directly opposite the great carved face.
“Gosh, it’s still here!” exclaimed Chips. “I’d half convinced myself it was all a pipe dream.”
“The carving is real enough,” declared Dan in awe.
Even more than upon their previous visit, the Cubs were impressed by the lifelike appearance of the staring face.
As they gazed fixed at it, Midge inquired if the park authorities had been informed of the Cubs’ discovery.
“Mr. Hatfield talked to the park superintendent about it,” Dan told the group. “It was all news to Mr. Jennings. He said it must be the work of a crank. Park employees have been instructed to try to catch the sculptor, but they haven’t time to keep watch constantly.”
“Work has been done since we were here last,” observed Brad. He had been studying the face intently. “See! That section to the left has been finished.”
“That’s so,” agreed Red. “It’s funny the park people can’t catch the fellow.”
“They’re not too disturbed about it,” Brad replied carelessly. “After all, the carving is a credit to the park. Mr. Hatfield says it’s certainly being done by a skilled and talented sculptor.”
“He doesn’t have any idea who the person may be?” Dan questioned thoughtfully.
“Not the slightest. In fact, Webster City has only one really talented sculptor, and he’s so far up in years, it’s unlikely he’d attempt anything like this.”
After gazing at the clay image for awhile, the Cubs descended the sharp incline and struggled up the steep, uneven slope on the opposite side of the ravine.
Catching their breath, they viewed the strange face at close range. Lips and cheeks of the weird creature had been colored with powdered red sandstone. Bits of broken dishes formed the whites of the eyes.
To the left of the face, on the rock shelf lay a grotesque fallen tree trunk, its dead fingers of roots stretching out toward the carving. It was at the base of this tree that the Cubs found the dead ashes of a fire.
“Gosh! It gives me the creeps just looking at that face!” Fred muttered. “Let’s get our clay and beat it.”
