resources of a
boy's fertile mind in conjuring up remarkable explanations in a
mysterious case like the one now engaging their attention had not yet
been reached at the time Hugh suddenly announced they were close to
the place where the abandoned quarry road started in from the
thoroughfare they were then following.

"We just passed the twin oaks I remember stood alongside the road on
the left," he explained, at the same time slowing up considerably;
"and they are close to the turning-in place."

"I noticed them in particular, you see, because I didn't want to lose
even three seconds when on the run, in searching for some sign of the
spot; though, of course, I could have looked for the marks of our
tires left there at the time we came back from our nutting excursion,
and went through to the other road. Yes, here we are right now, and
I'm going to turn in, boys."

He negotiated the turn without accident, though the branches of the
trees did scrape against the sides of the car in a way that made some
of the occupants shudder; for already they were beginning to feel a
trace of the uneasiness that their gruesome surroundings were apt to
arouse within their boyish hearts.

CHAPTER XIV

THE SEARCHING PARTY

"Hugh, it looks like we mightn't need those lanterns after all,"
remarked Horatio, after they had gotten well started along the dimly
seen quarry road.

Indeed, the brilliant headlights of the big car illuminated a radius
of considerable size ahead of them and around. Every tiny twig was
thrown out into bold relief, as though a powerful sun had found a way
of forcing ingress through the canopy of leafless branches overhead.

"Not just at present, perhaps," replied the driver at the wheel; "but
they may come in handy yet. We'll wait and see."

Owen sat beside Hugh, the other three occupying the tonneau of the
car. There was abundance of room for all, and some to spare. Owen
held his new shotgun in his hands and he kept a close watch upon
the road ahead, just as though that idea connected with a ferocious
wildcat might have taken hold on his mind, and he believed there
was a possibility of such a thing coming to pass. Hugh drove with
exceedingly great care, and made no attempt at speed. Indeed, such
a thing was utterly out of the question, with that rough road to
follow and the necessity of keeping a constant vigilant outlook,
lest they collide with some tree. When the quarry was in full operatio