u can't fool us, old man. We have you foul, and we'll never
let up on you till you lead us to Frank Merriwell. We are young, but you
will find we can keep a pledge like men."

In truth, Cooler seemed in earnest as he said:

"Young gentleman, you wrong me very much. I am ready to go with you and
do what I can to help find Mr. Merriwell, but that is all I can do. It
will be better if you will let me go alone. I shall be able to work
alone far better."

"Oh, yes," sneered Hodge. "You think we are fools! No, we go with you."

"All right. I am ready."

It did not seem that anything further could be forced from his lips.
They warned him that they would not hesitate to shoot if he tried to run
away, and then they climbed the bank.

"If you want me to lead you," said Mr. Cooler, "come on."

He did not take the path, but plunged into the woods. They kept close to
him, watching him.

"If you try to lead us into a trap," said Hodge, "you will be sorry. If
we are ambushed here in these woods, my first shot will be at you. I'll
fix you, if I never do another thing."

There was nothing like bluster in the words, and Mr. Caleb Cooler knew
Bart meant exactly what he said.

"That is all right," nodded the little man. "Shoot away."

He led them toward the glade in which was the mysterious grave. At last
they stood around the grave, and he said:

"Here is something I discovered since coming to the island. That name
was on the stone before I joined you at the clambake. I forgot to tell
you about it."

"Yesterday there was another name on that stone," said Browning. "The
new name must have been cut there after we left the island yesterday
afternoon."

"I do not know when it was cut there," declared Cooler; "but everything
shows it must have been very recently. I do know it was there when I
landed on this island to-day."

"And you know who cut it there!" accused Diamond.

"If you think so, it is useless to deny it."

"Now take us to Frank Merriwell!"

"All I can do is aid you in the search. I am willing to go anywhere with
you."

They passed on from the dark glade, leaving the mysterious grave behind
them.

Cooler seemed inclined to keep to the left, although the woods were
thicker there. They pushed forward, as if passing through a jungle.
Branches whipped them in the face, and beneath their feet the underbrush
crackled.

All at once Diamond shouted:

"Stop! stop! Where is Cooler?"

"Why," grunted Browning, "