, and then gazed searchingly around the cabin to make sure that no
signs of their visit were left behind to warn the thieves. After
assuring himself that everything was exactly as they had found it, he
and Joe left the rude habitation, snapping the big padlock through the
hasp.

"That's a swell lock," observed Joe, grinning. "It looks strong enough
to discourage anybody, but Jimmy's fish-hook licked it to a frazzle in
no time."

"That's the way with a lot of padlocks," said Bob, as the two started
off in search of the others. "It would take dynamite to break them open,
but they're easy enough to pick."

"If you know how, that is," supplemented Joe, with a grin.

"Oh, that's understood," replied Bob. "It's hard to do anything without
the know-how."

They soon picked up the two sentinels, who were greatly relieved to see
them.

"I thought you were going to spend the night there," grumbled Jimmy.
"What happened? Did you both fall asleep in the middle of it?"

"You're an ungrateful rascal, Doughnuts," answered Joe. "Here Bob and I
have worked like slaves for the last hour, while all you had to do was
loaf around in the nice fresh air. Then instead of thanking us, you
growl because we took so long."

"Well, don't get sore," protested Jimmy. "I suppose we should all be so
happy over this discovery that we shouldn't mind anything. I'll bet your
father will be tickled to death, Herb."

"I guess he will," agreed Herb. "Although we're still a long way from
getting back the stolen silk. There's no doubt that we've struck a
mighty promising clue, that much is sure."

Bob was about to make some remark when he checked himself and halted in
a listening attitude.

"I think some one is coming!" he exclaimed, in a low tone. "I'm sure I
heard voices. Let's duck into the underbrush, quick!"

They were not a moment too soon, for they had hardly reached a place of
concealment behind a great fallen tree when two men appeared around a
bend in the path. One was the same whom they had followed a few hours
before, while the other was a stranger to them. This man was of a
desperate and unprepossessing appearance, and a bulge under his coat
suggested the possible presence of a weapon.

The boys congratulated themselves that this formidable looking personage
had not arrived half an hour sooner, for they were of course unarmed and
would have been hard put to it had they been caught in the cabin.

They lay snugly hidden in their retr