aimed Jack; and then without further ado he ran
out on the ice to meet the newcomers.

"So this is Jack Rover, eh?" said Mr. Stevenson, shaking hands warmly.
"I'm glad to know you; and I must thank you for sending me that
telegram."

"I sincerely hope you can patch up your differences with old Uncle
Barney," answered Jack quietly. "He's in a peck of trouble just now."

"Why, what has happened?" questioned Ruth's father. "But excuse me," he
added. "This is my friend, Mr. Powell."

By this time the other Rovers had come forward, and all told the two men
of what had taken place. In the meantime, Uncle Barney remained behind
on the lake shore, resting on his gun and eyeing the visitors
speculatively.

"I wish you would all do me a favor," said Mr. Stevenson, in a low tone
of voice, so that the old lumberman might not hear. "I wish you would
give me a chance to speak to Uncle Barney alone."

"Certainly we'll give you that chance, Mr. Stevenson," answered Jack
readily. "We are after the two rascals who stole that treasure box. Tell
Uncle Barney that we are going to continue the hunt while you are doing
your talking. Maybe Mr. Powell would like to go with us."

"Certainly. I don't want to interfere with this affair between these
other men," was the quick reply.

Leaving Ruth's father to talk matters over with the old lumberman, the
Rover boys and Mr. Powell began the journey down the side of Snowshoe
Island. As they proceeded, the boys told the man many of the particulars
of how Professor Lemm and Mr. Brown, accompanied by Slugger and Nappy,
had come to the island to take possession, and then how the old
lumberman had been attacked in the cave and how the precious blue tin
box had been stolen.

"That's certainly carrying matters with a high hand," was Mr. Powell's
comment. "I sincerely trust the old man gets the box back. If he
doesn't, it may cause him a great deal of trouble, especially if those
deeds have not been recorded since the old courthouse burnt down. I
remember well that that fire caused a great deal of trouble among
property owners in this county."

He told the boys that he and his wife and daughter May had been visiting
the Stevensons at the time the Rovers' telegram arrived. He had left his
wife and daughter to continue the visit, and had accompanied Mr.
Stevenson on the trip just for the sake of a little outing.

"This quarrel between old Uncle Barney, as he is called, and the
Stevensons is all no