Part 22 (1/2)
They were up with the dawn, and after breakfast headed towards the deserted logging camp. They approached carefully, and when within sight of it, waited and reconnoitered.
”Guess no one is at home or there would be a sign of smoke from the chimney, unless whoever is living there is eating raw food. Let's take a look at the spring,” said Garry.
At the spring they found no sign of anyone having been there lately.
This was easily seen, for the ground was soft about the bubbling spring, and would have retained a fresh print.
”All right then, now for the bunkhouse,” ordered Garry.
They entered by prying loose one of the shutters and hopped inside. The interior gave no sign of having been used for years, as the dust was thick everywhere, and nothing could be found that looked as though it had been touched in some time.
In an old cupboard they found a box of nails of all sizes, and this gave Garry an idea. Cutting his bandanna handkerchiefs in strips, he doubled them up, until he had oblong pieces about two inches in width and four in length. Then he removed the shutter entirely, and fastened the cloth hinges he had made to it. While the others held the shutter in place again, he fastened the other ends of the crude hinges to the top of the window casing. A piece of string from his pocket was utilized to hold it tight against the bottom of the sill.
”You see, this string holds the shutter in place, and from the outside no one would ever suspect that it had been touched. You see I've used a window that is not in view of the shack. Now should it become necessary for any reason to leave this place in a hurry, a sharp push will break the strings that holds the shutter in at the bottom, and pus.h.i.+ng out the shutter, it's only a matter of seconds in getting out. Then you can use your legs in getting clear of the vicinity,” explained Garry.
At the opposite end of the shack, in a shutter, was pierced a peephole that commanded a view of the door of the shack that the boys believed was the one used by the occupant or occupants of the building.
”There, everything is set. You chaps hike, and then d.i.c.k is to return at noon to relieve me, leaving Phil the first watch tomorrow morning,”
ordered Garry.
Garry's watch was unavailing, for when d.i.c.k came at noon he had nothing to report. It was arranged that no one should come for d.i.c.k, but that he should be back as soon after dusk set in as possible. In order to be sure of d.i.c.k's safety, it was agreed that if he were not back by eight o'clock the others should come and see what was up, or if anything was the trouble.
d.i.c.k turned up at the lean-to just as dark set in, and reported that there was nothing stirring.
The boys were almost of the opinion that the whole business was a wild goose chase, but Phil was determined to take a hand at watching, and it was agreed that he should stand the morning watch, and be joined at noon by the others, who would finish the day together.
In case nothing developed they would put an end to the watching and start for Umculos Lake the following morning.
Phil started for his post the next morning. As he went, he said:
”I've a hunch something breaks this morning, hope my hunch comes true.”
He had been gone not much more than an hour when he came tearing back, just catching the others as they were setting out on a short hike into a new and unexplored part of the woods.
”The mysterious occupant has come, and guess who it is!” he shouted.
”LeBlanc?” questioned Garry.
”The tramps?” hazarded d.i.c.k.
”Both wrong. It's the chap who was in the room with the old man in that house in Bangor. The one who got away with the missing portion of the map!”
CHAPTER XXI.
THE QUEST OF THE MINE.
”Well, talk about luck!” shouted d.i.c.k. ”Let's dig back there as fast as we can, and rescue the missing portion of the map. He cannot have found the mine, for his part of the map was as useless to him as the part you have, Phil, was to us.”