nsense," he declared flatly. "It could have been
cleared up years ago if the old man would only have listened to reason.
But he was much upset by his financial losses, and more upset when his
wife died, and he wouldn't listen to a word. Now that he is willing to
talk I am sure they can patch it up."

About a mile was covered, and then the Rovers and Mr. Powell found where
Slugger and Nappy had gone ashore again at a point where the island was
quite low.

"I'll wager they thought they could cross here with ease, and thus save
themselves the trouble of going around the south point," said Jack, and
in this surmise he was correct.

Once again the trail led into the woods, and now it was fairly straight
up to a point where the ground became rougher. Here they found the snow
scattered around some rocks, and rightly guessed that one of the youths
had had a tumble.

"And I guess the tumble must have hurt some," announced Randy. "Look at
those footprints further on, will you? One of the fellows did a lot of
limping."

"Maybe he twisted his ankle, or something like that!" cried Andy.

"It's too bad he didn't hurt himself so severely that he couldn't go any
further," grumbled Fred.

"It won't be long now before we come out near that cabin where we stayed
during that awful snowstorm," said Jack.

It was now well along in the middle of the afternoon, and the Rovers
rightly concluded that this point had not been reached by Slugger and
Nappy until late the day before.

"If one of them was hurt, they wouldn't want to skate away over to
Rockville in the dark," said Randy. "Maybe they stayed on this island
all night."

"There is that old cabin!" exclaimed Fred, as they reached a cleared
space and could see some distance ahead.

The little cabin was thickly surrounded by snow, and looked very much
as it had when they had left it. But to their surprise, not to say
delight, they saw a thin wreath of smoke curling up out of the chimney.

"Somebody is there as sure as fate!" exclaimed Jack.

"Come on, let's see who it is!" burst out Randy.

All hurried forward, making no noise in the snow, and soon reached the
side of the cabin. Then Jack, who was in advance, peered in through a
corner of the broken-out window, pulling aside the nailed-up blanket for
that purpose.

The sight which met his gaze filled him with surprise and satisfaction.
On a rude couch at one side of the single room of which the structure
boasted, rested Sl