at are we going to do?" asked Betty practically. "If all the bags
contain things like these, this cave is a mighty valuable place. Oh, and
to think that we were the ones to discover it!"

"Well, you people can stay here and guard the loot if you want to," said
Will. "But I'm going over to the mainland to hunt up a couple of ancient
sheriffs--I suppose they are ancient," he added whimsically. "In
stories, you wouldn't recognize a sheriff without his whiskers."

"Never mind the whiskers," said Mollie impatiently. "The thing is,
somebody has to stay and guard the cave or it will disappear the way it
did the other time, and you will bring the authorities over here for
nothing."

"Well, of course you will have to stay until I get back," Will decided.
"In the meantime, you can eat lunch. Good-bye, I'm off." And he led the
way into the sunlight, which dazzled their eyes after the semi-gloom of
the cave.

"But you will have to wait for the ferry," Allen called after him, "and
it may not be along for some time."

"I'll take a chance," Will flung back. "I'll get there if I have to
swim!"

"Maybe if you swim you can beat the ferry," suggested Allen, with a
laugh.

"Say, that's a scheme! I guess I had better try it."

"Nonsense! You take the boat, old as it is."

"All right, Allen."

CHAPTER XXIV

LYING IN WAIT

Somehow the lunch did not taste as good that day. Excitement had robbed
the Outdoor Girls and their boy friends of appetite. They ate in a
preoccupied way, eyes now on the cave so close at hand, now wandering in
the direction from which the gypsies had come. If these latter should
return before Will--well, then it would be time for a hurried exit on
their part. They had no intention of being caught in the wolf's lair.

It was Will, however, who reached the place first, and those waiting for
him could have danced with relief when they heard his voice. A moment
later they caught sight of him, accompanied by two men from the town.
Judging from their gesticulations, the latter were more than ordinarily
excited. Incidentally, let it be recorded that neither of them, the
sheriff nor his deputy, had a beard.

"Here they are!" Will cried, as he caught sight of his friends. "I
thought I was on the right track. Any news since I left?"

"Not a thing," Frank answered. "The place has been absolutely deserted."

"Good," said Will, then, turning to the men beside him, added: "This is
the entrance we found to-d