Part 25 (1/2)

”Well, what about him? Where is he?”

”We don't know; we can't find him. Did you hear him cry out?”

”Yes; and we came as quickly as we could. He must be in the lodge.”

”No,” said Pod, firmly; ”he isn't. We've searched it from top to bottom.”

”Well, you searched too hurriedly then. Come, Tom; let's see if we can find the meaning of all this.”

”Surely; he's bound to be here. Let's go into the bas.e.m.e.nt first.”

”All right. Are the lights on below, Hoki?”

”Yes, sirs; all on,” was the j.a.p's reply. ”We find them on when we return to lodge.”

”You found them on?” Chot exclaimed.

”Yes, sirs.”

”Shows, then, that Bert went below. Come on, Tom. You other fellows can come or not, as you chose.”

”No, no,” said Hoki, with a shudder. ”I not care to go-I know-I know!

You go, sirs; Hoki stay behind.”

The boys exchanged glances. The j.a.p was visibly frightened, and it occurred to Chot and Tom that perhaps he knew more about Winnsocket Lodge than he cared to tell.

”I'll go with you,” said Pod.

”Well, you stay with Hoki, Fleet,” said Chot, winking significantly, and the fleshy lad nodded. He knew that wink; it meant, ”And watch him, too.”

It was as Hoki had said; the lights were all on in the bas.e.m.e.nt. They were controlled by a little b.u.t.ton at the head of the bas.e.m.e.nt stairs, and Bert, if he had rushed suddenly below, could easily have turned it.

Either this was what had happened, or it had been turned on by other parties before Bert entered the lodge.

The boys could not prevent a creepy sensation from possessing them, as they moved slowly down the stairs into the big cellar. A breath of cool air met their nostrils as they reached the foot of the steps and glanced about them.

”Bert-oh, Bert!” Chot called. His voice echoed and re-echoed through the place, but there was no response.

”That strange,” said Tom.

They explored the cellar from one end to the other, but no trace of their missing chum was found. They searched diligently for a secret door, though where it could possibly have led had they found it, they could not imagine.

”Well, there's no use staying down here any longer,” said Chot. ”Bert has disappeared, that's all, and, very likely, of his own free will.”

”I don't know about that,” said Pod, with a dubious shake of the head.

”Well, I don't see what could have happened to him,” said Tom.

”There's no way to tell what has happened unless we can first decide just why he cried out, then dashed so hurriedly inside,” said Chot. ”He was excited-that we know-and the most natural surmise is that he heard someone rummaging about the bas.e.m.e.nt.”