ad more important matters on hand than observing
the atmosphere of the place. The cave they found was much larger than
they had had any idea of. In places the roof was all of ten feet high.
But as they penetrated further in, moving cautiously, lighting the way
with every step, the walls sloped toward the back, approaching nearer
to the floor.

Except for the light from the matches, the boys were in darkness, so
that they were not able to observe that the opening to the cave had
closed. A strong breeze, swaying the upper limbs of the tree, had
dislodged the stones and allowed the roots to slip quietly into place
again. The boys, without knowing it, were prisoners.

"You aren't throwing your matches on the floor, are you?" demanded
Tad turning sharply.

"Yes, why not?"

"Show me a light here," commanded Tad going down on his knees and
gathering up all the burnt matches he could find. "That is a fine
trail you are leaving. Why, were any one to come in here, he would
discover instantly that strangers had been here."

"I---I never thought of that," stammered Chunky.

"We must think of everything. Our very lives may depend on our
doing so."

"Wha---what do you mean, Tad?"

"Don't you understand yet?"

"I---I guess I begin to. Some---somebody's been here."

"Yes. It is my opinion that the very men Captain McKay is looking for
have been here. Come, we must be quick! We are likely to be
interrupted at any time, though I hardly think any of them would
come here in the daytime."

The boys were obliged to stoop in order to continue their explorations
further. After creeping under the low-hanging rock they found that
they were able to stand erect once more. Then they discovered something
else. There were bales piled on top of one another, packs securely
tied lying about, guns, rugs, in fact a miscellaneous assortment of
goods which the boys believed to be of great value. In one corner
stood a chest securely padlocked. It was a rough chest, bound with
iron bands that looked as if they might have been used on cotton bales.

"Well, we have made a discovery, Stacy Brown!" breathed Tad.

"We have," agreed the fat boy, his eyes growing large with wonder.
"What do you suppose is in that chest?"

"I don't know."

"Let's open it," suggested Stacy eagerly.

Tad shook his head.

"In the first place we have no business to do anything of the sort.
In the second place I don't want to stay here much longer.