, for they immediately started
a search of the interior of the cabin, their idea being to find some
clue that might tell just who the late mysterious inmates were, and why
they had fled so hurriedly.

Lub may have been just as curious as his mates; but he was very tired
after the long and arduous walk, so that apparently he believed three
could cover the field just as thoroughly as four. At any rate he showed
no sign of meaning to quit his seat upon the rude stool he had found;
but leaning forward, watched operations, at the same time rubbing his
shins sympathetically.

"What's this on the peg up here?" exclaimed X-Ray, the very first thing.

"Looks like some sort of a hat to me," remarked Ethan.

"Just what it is; but say, take notice of the size, will you? It's a
_child's_ hat, as sure as you live! Why, there must have been a child
along with the lot!"

"That's queer!" Lub observed, not wanting to be wholly ignored.

"Game poachers they may have been," muttered Ethan, "but if there was a
little chap along, there must have been a family of 'em. See if you
could pick up such a thing now as a hair-pin, or any other woman
business."

They went to scrutinizing the cracks of the floor more closely than
ever. That suggestion on the part of Ethan was worth trying out. Of
course the presence of any little article like a hair-pin would show
that a woman had been there.

"I don't hear anybody sing out!" remarked X-Ray Tyson, presently; "and
on that account it looks like we hadn't discovered anything worth
mentioning. What gets me is, however could they have cleaned the old
shack out so quick, and never left anything worth mentioning behind
'em?"

"From the time we sighted the cabin, back to when we first whooped,
couldn't have been more'n eight minutes, I should think," Lub gravely
announced.

"Lots could be done in that time," asserted Phil; "but all the same I am
bothered to know why they'd be in such a rattling big hurry. It might be
they knew about us being on the way longer than eight minutes."

"Who would have called 'em up on the phone, and mentioned the fact?"
asked X-Ray, meaning to be humorous.

"Well, one of the lot may have seen us miles back, and put for the cabin
by some short-cut we don't know anything about," Phil told him.

"That could be, of course," admitted Ethan, after considering the matter
seriously.

"Mebbe we'll never know the truth, which would be too bad," Lub
continued; for a myster