some reason for this secrecy. By Jove,
let's try and get in."

As he spoke, Phil ran to one of the windows. This had been boarded up
from the outside, but one of the boards appeared to be loose.

"What say, Garry, shall I try and make an entrance?"

"I think under the circumstances it would be all right, since we are in
search of possible evidence," replied Garry, after a moment's
consideration.

Carefully inserting the edge of his axe under the loose board, Phil
worked the axe handle slowly, until at last he was rewarded by the board
giving way, gently withdrawing the nails with it. In a few moments more,
he had a second board removed, disclosing a window. It had an ordinary
lock, and opening his knife, Phil inserted the blade and soon snapped
the lock back. In a few seconds the three had clambered in, and were
taking stock of the interior.

Undeniably the place had been recently occupied. On the table were two
bottles with the remains of candles stuck in them, while in the
fireplace were the remains of a fire. A good woodsman can tell whether a
fire has been made recently or not, and the boys saw at once that this
was the case.

On the table was a pack of cards, thrown there evidently at the ending
of a game. There were four bunks at one side of the room, and these had
been cleaned out and fresh boughs were laid there, although there were
no blankets.

Garry discovered a closet, and on opening it, found that there was a
fair stock of provisions.

"Guess you are right, Phil. Someone is making a headquarters of the
shack. It seems logical to think that they are doing so secretly, for if
anyone with a right to use the place were living here, they would have
removed the boards from the windows, and would have made the place a
little bit more habitable. However, we had better dust out of here, for
we don't want to be surprised by anyone that happens to come along,
especially whoever is using this place. Perhaps it would be a good idea
to establish a watch and see who comes here. The chances are whoever
uses the place comes at night, or at least in the early evening, and one
might be able to get a look at them. At any rate, let's hike out,"
concluded Garry.

Looking around carefully to see that they left no evidence of their
surrepticious visit, they went out through the window.

"Sorry there's no way to lock that window hasp again, but since the
windows are evidently not used by the occupants, I don't believe