Part 22 (2/2)

”No, sir,” replied Doright. ”Ah can show youall where they was onct, but they haint there no mo'. Done moved!”

”Lead on, Doright,” commanded Jack, ”and be careful on what road you set your feet. We have lost our two comrades and we are trying to find them.

Our n.o.ble dog here has trailed them thus far, and he'll help us find the boys, but you can do it more quickly.”

In answer, Doright turned and beckoned the boys to follow. He led them in a short time to the site of the cabin in the clearing. There the lads found only a few smoking pieces of timber and a huge bed of embers.

Tom's nose was sniffing suspiciously.

”Do you get it again?” asked Frank. ”I do, and it's plain as can be in here. Seems mighty funny, too!” he declared.

”It is peculiar,” agreed Tom. ”I can get the odor of burned flesh as plain as day. I wonder what this fellow knows.”

”Doright,” demanded Frank, pulling his automatic from his pocket and presenting it muzzle foremost towards the giant, ”tell us what happened to the boys. Tell it quick and straight.”

Quaking with fear, the negro told of the call of the boys late in the afternoon; of his preparing supper; of the rage of Lopez; of his command to tie the boys; of his own sleepiness when thinking the boys were safe and of finding the cabin afire.

He maintained that he had remained as long as it was possible to hope for the boys' safety, and then had started off in search of Lopez or Wyckoff to give them the news.

His fear was so genuine and his grief over the fact that he had been unable to do anything to save their chums so intense that the boys could not find it in their hearts to chide him further.

”Never mind, Doright,” Tom exclaimed laying a hand on the broad shoulder of the negro. ”We believe you did all you could and that you tried to live up to your name and to do right. Don't grieve.”

Rowdy had been ranging about the clearing while the conversation had been going on. He did not seem to take a dislike to Doright, but rather ignored him. This fact was commented on by the boys.

”Jack,” Tom spoke at length, ”do you know what I think?”

”No, Tom, I do not,” replied Jack. ”You think so many things it's hard to keep track of them all. I wish I might. What is it?”

”I don't believe the boys ever were in that cabin at all.”

”Oh, yes, dey was, Boss!” protested Doright. ”Ah seen 'em.”

”Then they got out!” stoutly maintained Tom.

”Where are they now?” asked Frank. ”And how do you explain that odor of burning flesh? There's a mystery here somewhere.”

”There always is a mystery when the Beaver Patrol goes out on a hike,”

declared Tom. Look at the dense, dark mystery that surrounded us while we were in the Copper Country. Look at the mystery about our visit to Niagara Falls. We simply blunder into mystery every time we stir a foot!

Mystery is our regular schedule!”

”Yes,” agreed Jack, ”but we always solve the mystery. This is going to be no exception to the rule! We must solve it!”

”Maybe Doright can explain something about this thing,” suggested Frank.

”Doright!” he called. ”Can you tell me what makes such a smell of burning meat around here? What is it?”

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