hing you know. We never went away
on a Boy Scout expedition yet that we didn't find all manner of kids
hanging around on purpose to be discovered. We found them on Old
Superior; and in the Everglades; and on the Great Continental Divide;
and up in the Hudson Bay country, we began to think we had stumbled on
the center of population so far as Boy Scouts were concerned!"

"There's just one thing that's likely to make us trouble," Will resumed.
"And that is the fact that Canfield very foolishly slopped over to
Ventner when explaining the purpose of our visit here. That bum
detective knows now that we're here to search the mine. Of course he
might have received, as Canfield says, the most of his information from
outside sources, but the caretaker should have thrown him off the track
instead of telling him exactly what our mission here was."

"But Ventner came here to search for the boys himself!" George broke in.
"At least, he says that he did."

"There's a mystery about the whole matter," Sandy declared, "and I'd
like to help clear it up from beginning to end!"

"We're likely to have a chance!" laughed Tommy.

"What are we going to do all the afternoon?" George asked.

"Wander around town," smiled Will, "and find out about the evening
train, and ask fool questions about the pumps and the mine, and laugh at
the idea of anybody living in there. That'll give Ventner the idea that
we're going for good, I reckon. He's a pretty bum skate to pose as a
detective!"

"I'll tell you what I'm going to do most of the afternoon!" Tommy
declared. "I'm going to the hay! I never felt so bunged up for want of
sleep in my innocent life."

"Haven't you forgotten something?" asked Sandy.

"Sure!" shouted Tommy. "I'm forgetting to eat!"

"And you're forgetting something else!" insisted Sandy.

"Nix on the forget!" declared Tommy. "When I forget my eatings and
sleepings, the world will come to an end!"

"You forgot to read a chapter in your dream book!" said Sandy.

"Never you mind that dream book," Tommy replied. "Whenever you want to
find the answer to any puzzle, you look in that dream book!"

After eating another hearty meal the boys, having already packed their
wardrobes, locked the door of their room and addressed themselves to
slumber.

They were awakened about five o'clock by a loud knocking on the door,
and presently they heard the voice of Canfield calling to them.

"Wake up, boys!" he cried. "I have good news for yo