XXIX

THE DISCOVERY

"The trouble is, those rascals have a twenty-four hours' start of us,"
remarked Jack. "For all we know they may be miles away by this time."

"It's too bad Uncle Barney didn't take our advice and either have those
deeds recorded, or else place them in some bank vault," said Fred.

"The thing now is to see if we can trail those fellows, whoever they
were," put in Randy.

"That's the talk!" cried his twin. "No use of crying over spilt milk, as
the cat said when she tipped the pan over into the well," and at this
remark there was a faint smile.

The Rovers had drawn to one side to talk over the situation while Barney
Stevenson was preparing to accompany them from the cave. The old man was
both excited and worried. He cared little about the wound he had
received on the head. All he wanted to do was to get back his treasure
box, as he called it.

The little party soon reached the point where all had left their
snowshoes. They looked around with care, and presently made out a trail
leading toward the lake shore.

"If they went down to the lake, they most likely skated away," remarked
Fred.

It was an easy matter to follow the trail through the snow. It led up to
the vicinity of some rough rocks, and here turned southward.

"I guess they reasoned that they couldn't get over those rocks,"
remarked Uncle Barney. "Maybe they were afraid of a bad tumble. I wish
they had gone over them and broken their necks!" he added bitterly.

"If only they had dropped the treasure box in the snow!" murmured Fred.

"No such luck for us, Fred," responded Jack. "I'm afraid that box and
its precious contents are far away by this time."

They continued to follow the footprints, and at the end of a quarter of
an hour found themselves at something of a clearing between the trees.
Here those who had stolen the box had evidently stopped to rest, for it
could be seen where they had been seated on a fallen log, and where they
had placed the box.

"Look here!" cried Jack, who was inspecting the ground closely. "Just as
I thought--those fellows were Slugger and Nappy, I feel certain." He
pointed to several half-burnt matches, and also a number of cigarette
stubs.

"I guess you're right," returned Randy. "I'm quite sure Asa Lemm doesn't
smoke cigarettes, and when he was on the island Mr. Brown was smoking a
black-looking cigar."

"Well, if those boys stole the box, they will most likely turn it over
to the professo