f the cabin and peered in at
one of the windows, and it was this noise that had attracted Barney
Stevenson's attention. But they had managed to keep out of sight of the
old lumberman by flinging themselves down behind some bushes. They
watched the departure of Uncle Barney with interest, and at once
resolved to follow him.

"Of course we haven't any snowshoes; so maybe we won't get very far,"
said Slugger, "but we will do the best we can."

Unconscious that his movements were being so closely observed, Uncle
Barney plunged deep into the woods, taking a trail which was familiar to
him. In some spots the snow lay deep, but in the majority of places the
wind had swept the ground almost bare, so Slugger and Nappy had no great
difficulty in following in the old man's footsteps.

"He doesn't seem to be going out after any game," observed Nappy
presently. "I just saw a rabbit running ahead of him, and he never even
raised his gun."

"I think I know where he's going," answered Slugger. "We'll soon find
out if I'm right."

"You mean that cave your father once spoke about?"

"That's it, Nappy."

"What is there about that cave that makes it so important?" went on the
other curiously.

"Never mind that now--you'll know some day--when my father gets
possession of the island," answered Slugger rather importantly.

The best part of half a mile more was covered, and then Barney Stevenson
left the trail and plunged in among a wilderness of trees and rocks. He
had to take off his snowshoes, and he hung them up in a tree. Then he
went ahead once more, presently reaching the foot of a little cliff.
Here there was an opening six or seven feet in diameter, and he
disappeared into this.

"What do you know about that?" cried Nappy in a low voice. "Is that a
cave?"

"That's just what it is!" answered Slugger triumphantly. "I only hope
it's the cave my father wanted to locate."

"Why does he want to locate a cave on this island?" asked Nappy, more
curious than ever.

"You'll know some day, Nap. Now come on--let's try to find out what the
old man is going to do in that cave."

With caution, the bully and his crony made their way over the snow, and
then slipped inside the entrance to the cave. Ahead of them they saw
the flicker of a lantern which Uncle Barney had lit.

The cave was irregular in shape, running back a distance of a hundred
feet or more. As the old man advanced he held his gun ready for use,
thinking that possibl