e in a cave!" was Mr. Stanlock's astonished comment. "That is
surely some combination of wild nature and mechanical civilization. I
shall certainly inspect your domesticated wild-and-woolly retreat.
When am I invited to come?"

"Any time, Mr. Stanlock," Ernie interposed, with the hospitality of
host. "Name your time and we'll be there to receive you."

"You'll have quite a walk to the cave tonight, and the walking isn't
very good, I venture. Pile in and I'll take you in the machine."

"I'm afraid we'll make more of a load than you can carry," said
Ernie.

"This machine can carry seven, nine in a pinch, and eleven in a case
of life and death," assured Mr. Stanlock. "But I've got an idea that
will cut off the life and death. I am bringing home a large sled that
a young manual training student made for my seven-year-old son,
Harold. It has a good, strong rope attached, and we will hitch it on
behind, and two of you boys can ride on that."

"Let's you and me hitch," said Paul to Jerry, eagerly. Jerry was just
as eager, and the problem of carrying ten passengers and the chauffeur
was settled.

"One of you boys get in front with Jake and show him the way,"
suggested the owner of the automobile.

"Jake!" The utterance of that name sent a thrill through every one of
the boys, all of whom recognized it as the name signed to the note
that "Johnny Two-Times" had found near the cave.

Ernie climbed up with the driver, the sled was taken out and hitched
on behind, and six of the boys "piled in" with Mr. Stanlock. As soon
as Paul and Jerry called out "Go ahead," they started.

It was not quite as jolly an adventure for the two boys on the sled as
they had expected. The road was pretty rough and, although the
chauffeur, obeying his employer's instruction, drove carefully, the
"hitchers" were twice thrown off.

But they refused to give up, declaring it to be the most fun they had
had "in a coon's age," which was really a boys' bravery fib, and
finally the machine drew up within a hundred and fifty feet of the
cave.

The boys and Mr. Stanlock left the automobile in charge of the driver
and proceeded to the Scouts' hunting headquarters. The visitor proved
that he had not lost all sympathy for his youthful days, for he
declared that he would like nothing better than to return to his
'teens and spend a mid-winter vacation with the young hunters in their
cave. After the inspection was completed, Clifford again broached the
su