CHAPTER IX

night on cabin island

it took the boys the greater part of the day installing themselves in the cabin on the island and "getting everything shipshape," as Chet expressed it, by nightfall. After they had made the boats secure they were obliged to make numerous trips from the shore to the cabin, bringing up supplies, but by the time the early winter twilight fell they had managed to make the place very cosy and habitable.

They were too busy to discuss the strange af» fair of Hanleigh. Mid-afternoon had brought a rising wind that sent sheets of snow scurrying across the frozen surface of Barmet Bay and they saw that a storm was approaching, which made them more anxious to get settled by night.

They drew lots for the position of cook, the agreement being that each boy should alternate, a day at a time. Chet, to his relief, won the first appointment. As he did not relish the business of tramping back and forth to the iceboats in the snow, the arrangement was to his entire satisfaction and he was soon busying

himself at the warm stove endeavoring to pre-65

66 The Mystery of Cabin Island

pare a savory stew for their evening meal.

"Looks like a dirty night," commented Frank, as he gazed out over the bay. " I'm glad we'll be all snug and settled."

Blankets had been brought up, the beds had been made, the cupboard had been stocked and the main food supplies had been stored in a little room just off the kitchen. The lamps had been filled with oil, and Biff had even tacked a few highly colored pictures on the walls, "to take away the bare look of the place."

By nightfall one would have thought the adventurers had been living in the cabin for months.

The rising wind soon became a storm. As darkness fell, the snow began beating against the cabin windows and the gale howled down the great chimney. The boys had decided against using the fireplace for cooking purposes, the kitchen stove being more adaptable, but a roaring fire had been built and it cast a ruddy glow throughout the main room of the cabin.

Chet, with an apron tied about his corpulent waist, emerged from the kitchen from time to time, reporting the supper as "nearly ready," and each announcement was greeted with groans, for the fragrant odors were whetting the boys' appetites. At last, however, the table was laid, the steaming plates of stew were

Night on Cabin Island 67

Drought forth, and the boys fell to. Second helpings were in order, for the stew was excellent and the lads were hungry. Bread and butter, canned peas and corn, an immense mince pie and tin cups of hot coffee went the way of the stew, and in due time the boys sat back, sighing that they could not manage another bite.

Chet beamed with satisfaction when the others complimented him on the meal. The boys sat about the table for a while, laying plans for the forthcoming week, and then they washed the dishes. After that, they explored the rambling old cabin and finally sprawled on rugs before the roaring fire.

"Listen to that wind!" exclaimed Joe. "It sure makes me glad to be indoors by a warm blaze."

"With a full stomach," amended Chet.

"You would think of that."

"The place wouldn't seem half as cosy without that fireplace," said Biff.

Frank regarded the great stone chimney.

"It certainly is a whopper. I wonder what Hanleigh was so interested in it for."

"Let's forget about Hanleigh," said Chet. "He won't bother us any more."

"Let's hope not. But, just the same, I'd like to know why he was making all those measure ments.''

68 The Mystery of Cabin Island

"If he comes back, we'll heave him into a snowdrift and teach him a lesson," suggested Biff. "We won't let him spoil our holiday."

Outside, the storm had become a blizzard. Joe went to the window. He could see nothing but driving snow, and the wind was howling down upon the island. The cabin, staunchly built, scarcely trembled before the impact of the winter gale. The activities of the day had left the boys tired and they decided to go to bed early.

In due time, after much scuffling about and after Biff had chastised Chet for trying to hide his socks in the woodpile, the boys retired for the night and blew out the lamps. The fire glowed red and the night wind howled down the chimney. Under the heavy blankets, the lads were warm and comfortable.

Silence descended upon the cabin.

The boys were just snuggling down to sleep when a terrifying sound rose above the clamor of the wind.

"Owoooooo!"

It was like the wail of some anguished spirit.

With one accord, the boys felt their hair rising upon their scalps. No one said a word. The dreadful wail died away, then broke out again.

"Owoooooo!"

Night on Cabin Island 69

Then came Chet's voice, from between chattering teeth.

'' Wh-wh-what was that 1"

"Some of you chaps playing a joke on us!" demanded Frank suspiciously.

"N-not m-me," declared Chet.

"Me neither," said Joe.

"It wasn't me," Biff clamored.

Just then the sound broke out afresh.

"Owoooooo!"

It was a long-drawn-out, moaning sound thafl rose in volume to a veritable shriek, indescribably terrifying.

"Ghosts!" clamored Chet.

"There aren't any such things!" snorted Joe. "It must be the wind."

"You n-never heard the w-wind make a n-noise like that before, d-did you?" stammered Chet.

The other boys were forced to admit that they never had. The sound had a quality that was almost human. Besides, they had been listening to the howling of the wind all evening and at no time had it approached that mournful wail they had just heard,

"Maybe somebody is lost out in the snow-and crying for help," suggested Biff.

"How could anybody get out to this island pn a night like this?"

70 The Mystery of Cabin Island

"Wait till we hear it again."

They listened. For a long time they did not hear the mysterious sound. Then, with a suddenness that made them all jump convulsively, the wailing was resumed.

"Owooooooo!"

This time, the noise lasted a good ten seconds, rising to a shriek of terror, then dying away to a dismal moaning.

"It's right in this cabin!" Chet said, in a tnuffled voice which indicated that he had hidden his head beneath the blankets. "It's ghosts-I know it."

"Ghosts, my foot!" exclaimed Frank, scrambling out of bed. "I'm going to find out what is making that racket."

"Be careful," warned Joe nervously.

"I'll help you," declared Biff. He, too, got out of bed, and then there was a yelp of pain, followed by a crash.

"Ow!" yelled Biff.

"What happened?" demanded the others in chorus.

"I barged into a chair. Stubbed my big toe. Ow!"

This relieved the tension a trifle. The others snickered at Biff's predicament. Frank lit the lamp and in its glow the boys were revealed, shivering in their pajamas. Chet's round face peeped out above a heap of blankets.

Night o£i Cabin Island 71

"Owoooooooo!"

The dreadful sound broke out again. Chet dived beneath the blankets.

"That's the queerest howl I ever heard," declared Biff, rubbing his injured toe. "It certainly isn't the wind."

"It certainly isn't a human being," said Frank.

"It can't be a dog," volunteered Joe.

"Nor a cat."

"Then what is it?"

"Ghosts!" bellowed Chet, from beneath the blankets. "Put out that lamp."

Frank, however, raised the lamp on high and began to prowl about the cabin.

"The noise seemed to come from over this way," he said, moving toward one of the big windows near the front.

Even as he spoke, the sound broke out afresh, immediately above his head.

Frank looked up. He could see nothing, yet that mournful wailing continued, and at last died away again.

"There's certainly nothing up there," he announced, peering into the shadows.

"There must be!" exclaimed Biff, close at his heels.

"Hold the lamp. I'll soon find out."

Biff took the lamp, and Frank dragged a chair over to the wall. He stood on the chair

72 The Mystery of Cabin Island

and began examining the surface of the logs. At last, just when the sound broke out again, he gave vent to a howl of laughter.

"I've found it!"

"What was it!"

Biff raised the lamp.

"Here's your ghost. Come and see it, Chet. A glass ghost."

Frank was pointing to an object embedded between two logs. Chet, his fears laid at rest, emerged from beneath the blankets and came over.

There was a small hole between the logs where the plaster had fallen away. Some one, for some unknown reason, had placed the neck of a bottle in this hole in order to plug it up. On the floor below lay the cork, which had somehow worked its way loose from the bottle neck. The wind, whistling through the glass tube, had created the doleful, fearful sounds the boys had heard.

"Ghosts!" said Frank significantly, as he stepped down, picked up the cork and replaced it in the neck of the bottle.

"I didn't really think it was a ghost," murmured Chet lamely.

Then the boys began to laugh. Although they had refused to admit it, all had been puzzled and more or less frightened by the uncanny wailings. and their relief was now expended in

Night on Cabin Island 73

shrieks of laughter at their own expense. But the brave Chet, who had even refused to search for the cause of the sound, came in for his full share of ridicule.

The ghost was not heard again that night. But it was another hour before the boy** finally fell asleep, snickering to themselves.

CHAPTEB X stolen supplies

A completb recital of the boys' doings on Cabin Island during their first two days would be of small interest to any but themselves. Suffice it to say that they enjoyed themselves just as any other group of boys of the same age would in similar circumstances.

Cabin Island was located in a lonely cove, and, as it was some distance away from Bayport, few ice-boats ever ventured so far down the bay. However, this isolation did not mar the holiday. On the contrary, as Joe expressed it, they could easily imagine that they were having their outing in the remote Canadian wilderness, instead of but a few miles from their own homes.

The storm that had welcomed them to the island, died down during the night and when they awakened the next morning they found that there had been a heavy snowfall, with deep drifts. To get down to the ice-boats they had to break trail in real Northern fashion.

"This will spoil the ice-boating," predicted Joe. But, to their delight, they found that the liigb wind had swept clear great expanses of

74

Stolen Supplies 75

the bay, and although there were certain areas where the snow was piled high, by dexterous steering they could skirt these patches and keep to the open ice.

The first morning, they spent clearing a path from the cabin to the ice-boats in the little cove. In the afternoon, they went out in the boats for a while, then returned to the cabin for a piping hot supper. That evening, they sat about the fire, telling stories and chaffing one another. They found that the keen winter air and the wholesome outdoor exercise rendered them sleepy long before their accustomed bedtime and they were glad to turn in shortly after nine o'clock.

"At home I'd raise a rare kick if any one tried to get me to go to bed at this hour,'' said Biff. "Now I'm mighty glad to hit the hay. Boy, I'm tired!"

The next morning they explored the lower reaches of Barmet Bay, going as far as a little village that nestled in a cove on the southern shore, about three miles to the east of the island. After lunch, they decided to make an exploration of the country along the shore. Leaving the island, they went inshore by iceboat, then donned snowshoes and went up on to the mainland.

This country was heavily wooded in spots, and they spent an ^enjoyable afternoon snow*

76 The Mystery of Cabin Island

shoeing far up on the hills, from where they could look down and view the entire expanse of the bay, with Cabin Island looking very small in the distance. To the west, however, they saw that clouds were gathering, and although there was no wind, Frank remarked that he was sure a storm was rising.

"I guess we'd better get back before we get caught in any blizzard," he decided.

Joe had been peering at Cabin Island, an intent expression on his face.

"Do any of you chaps see any one on the island?" he said.

All looked. The island seemed deserted.

"You must be dreaming," scoffed Chet. "There's no one there."

"I can't see any one now, but I'm sure I saw some one moving against the snow down by the northern end of the island."

"Perhaps it was some animal," Biff suggested.

"It looked like a man. Of course, he was so far away that I can't be sure. I just caught a glimpse of him."

"Well, we will find out when we get back."

By the time they reached the boats again, Frank's prediction of a storm seemed to be in a fair way of being verified. The whole western sky was black and a light breeze sent the snow skimming across the surface of the ice.

Stolen Supplies 77

"We'll just about make it. Thank goodness, the wind is in our favor," said Frank, as he clambered into his boat.

They started off and made a quick run across fne intervening stretch of ice. It was already growing dark when they reached the island. The boys could see the snowstorm approaching down the bay, sweeping toward them like a gigantic gray veil. It was beginning tc snow and the air was filled with swirling white flakes.

"Just in time!" shouted Chet.

They put their boats in shelter for the night, then scrambled up the path toward the cabin. Frank unlocked the door and they dashed inside.

"We'll get a fire started and have a feed."

" Feed!" declared Chet. '' We '11 have a ban-quet. I'm as hungry as a bear. I could eat my own boots, without salt and pepper."

"You won't have to. There's plenty of grub."

Frank began making up the fire. Chet went out into the kitchen to look over the food supplies with a hungry eye.

A moment later he emerged, his eyes almost' popping out of his head.

"It's gone!" he gasped.

"What's gone?" demanded Joe.

"The grub!"

,78 The Mystery of Cabin Island

"What?"

"Every speck!" Chet was almost tearful. "There isn't a bit of food in the kitchen."

"There was plenty there this morning," said Biff. "What happened to it?"

"Stolen. Come and see for yourselves."

They all trooped into the kitchen.

Chet had spoken only too truly. All their food supplies had disappeared. The shelves had been swept clear. The lads gazed at the empty kitchen in consternation.

"Well, what do you know about that?" breathed Joe.

"Old Mother Hubbard had nothing on us," muttered Biff.

Frank's face was serious.

"I guess you were right, Joe, when you said you saw some one on the island. Some thiet has been here while we were away. That's a mighty mean trick. He hasn't left us even a loaf of bread."

"And a fine chance we have of getting any to-night, either," Biff pointed out. "We can't get back to town in this storm."

The boys were disconsolate. The prospect ·was cheerless. After an entire afternoon in the open their appetites had beeu whetted to razor «dge.

"Take off your boots, Chet," said Joe, with

TStolen Supplies 79

a feeble attempt at a joke. "You can have your chance at eating them now."

This effort fell flat. The boys were in no mood for jesting now. The loss of their food supplies was a serious matter.

"I wonder who could have done it," said Chet.

Frank shrugged.

"Looks like some of Hanleigh's work."

"But why would he try to steal our suppliesT What good would that do him? Perhaps it was only some sneak thief who chanced in here and saw a chance to make a good haul."

"Perhaps. But I imagine it was Hanleigh. He knew we were here."

"Wants to get us off the island," remarked Joe. "Perhaps he figured that if he stole our food, we'd have to clear out."

"We'll show him."

"But in the meantime," moaned Chet, "I'm hungry."

"Looks as if you'll have to go without eating until morning. We can go down to that little village and buy some more food then."

Chet patted his empty stomach.

"But I can't wait until then."

"You still have your boots," Joe reminded him again.

Then a thoughtful look crossed Chet's face.

80 The^ Mystery of Cabin Island

"Just a minute!" he shouted, and ran oufi of the room.

"What's he up to now!" demanded Biff.

They soon found out. Chet returned with one of the packsacks from under his bed.

"I just remembered. When we were unpacking the grub I forgot to take everything out of this packsack. Look!" He delved into it and produced half a loaf of bread, three tins of sardines, a can of salmon and a small quantity of tea in a canister.

The others raised a cheer of delight.

'' Hurray!'' shouted Biff. '' We won't starve after all."

"You forgot to unpack it, did you?" said Frank pointedly. "I'll bet you didn't forget. You just cached that grub away in case you might get hungry some time during the night."

"Now what good would a can of sardines do me in the middle of the night?" asked Chet.

"I know you. Never knew of you taking any chances on running out of food yet," Frank told him. "Well, this time it worked out all right. We'll help you get rid of your little supper, Chet."

"There isn't very much."

"Enough to keep us from starving, at any rate."

Soon, with a blazing fire casting a glow through the cabin, with the lamps lighted and

Stolen Supplies 81

with the table spread, the lads felt more cheerful. The meal was not at all what they had anticipated as a conclusion to their day, but their appetites were too keen to admit of any fault-finding.

"I suppose this means we go without breakfast," groaned Chet, as soon as he had finished the last sardine.

"That's right! Start worrying about breakfast the moment you've finished your supper," said Biff. "I never saw such a hungry wolf in all my life."

"I'm not hungry now, but I'll be hungry in the morning."

"Then wait until morning before you start talking about it." Frank got up and went over to the window. "Another wild night. If it weren 't for this storm we could have made the run to the village and back to-night, with more food."

"I hope the storm dies down by morning," muttered Chet gloomily.

"If it doesn't, you'll probably die of starvation."

"Just wait until I lay my hands on the fellow who played this dirty trick on us, that's all. Just wait!"

"It was Hanleigh, I'm sure of that," Frank said. "I'd give a lot to know why he's so anxious to get us away from this island!''

82 The Mystery of Cabin Island

"He won't freeze us out now. We'll staj here to the last minute," said Joe firmly. "And after this, believe me, we'll keep an eye on the supplies."

"You bet we will!" declared Chet. "From now on, I appoint myself guard of the food supply-providing we get some more food for me to guard."

The lads finally went to bed, although Chet had to be silenced on a number of occasions when he persisted in inquiring as to the probability of reaching the village and returning next morning before their usual breakfast time. Before slumber claimed them all, however, Frank expressed the common thought when he observed:

"Just wait until we meet Mr. Hanleigh agpint"

CHAPTER XI postage stamps

next morning, the snowstorm having abated, the boys went outside in a futile search for footprints. The snow had obliterated any tracks the thief might have made in the immediate vicinity of the cabin, but down by the boathouse, on the side sheltered from the wind, they found several footprints. Frank took measurements of them.

"Might come in useful some day," he com* mented. "I should say they were made by a fairly big man."

"How about food?" asked Chet, who had jjone without breakfast.

"Right away. Joe and I will take our iceboat and go down to the village. You and Biff had better stay here."

"Can't I go with you? Perhaps I could get Something to eat at the village, and I wouldn't tave to wait so long."

"You'll eat with the rest of us," laughed Frank.

"Why do you want Biff and me to stay?"

"I'm thinking the thief may not have taken those supplies away with him. If Hanleigb

84 The Mystery of Cabin Island

did it, his purpose would be served by merely hiding the food. You and Biff can spend your time hunting around the island. You may find where the grub has been hidden."

Chet's face lighted up at this probability.

"Come on, Biff!"

The Hardy boys got into their ice-boat and started off, leaving their two chums hopefully searching for the lost supplies.

The wind was favorable, and the Hardy boys reached the little village down on the mainland in a short time. It was a summer resort, and at this season of the year most of the houses were closed and boarded up, but a few permanent residents stayed on the year round, among them being the general storekeeper. His name, as it appeared from a weatherbeaten sign hanging above the store, was Amos Grice.

The boys left their boat by a little wharf which was almost covered with snow and made their way toward the store.

An elderly man with chin whiskers peered at them through his glasses as they entered. He was sitting behind the stove, reading a newspaper and munching at an apple, and he was evidently surprised to see any customers so early in the morning, particularly strangers.

"How do, boys! Where you from!" he asked.

"We're camping on an island farther up the

Postage Stamps 85

bay," Frank explained. "We came here in our ice-boat."

"Camping, hey I Well, it ain't many that camps in the winter time. As fer me, I think I'd rather set behind the stove when the colder weather comes on. It's more comfortable. What can I do for you?"

"Some one raided our cabin last night and stole all our food. We want to get some more supplies.''

"Stole all your food!" exclaimed Amoa Grice, clucking sympathetically. "Well, now, that's too bad. Fust time I ever heard of any thievin' in these parts. Was it a tramp, do you think?"

"We don't know who it was, but we have aii idea. I don't think it was a tramp. Just some* body trying to do us a bad turn."

"A mean thing to do," commented Mr. Grice, wagging his head. "Well, I guess I can fix you up all right. What do you want to buy?"

The boys spent some time giving the storekeeper an order, and when the goods had been wrapped up, Amos Grice invited them to sit down beside the cracker barrel and "chat for a while."

"It ain't often I see strangers in the winter time," he explained.

Frank and Joe told him that they could not stay very long, because their chums were back

86 The Mystery of Cabin Island

at the island, awaiting their return with the supplies.

"Back at the island, heyT What island?" insisted Amos Grice.

"Cabin Island, it's called."

"Cabin Island, heyT Why, ain't that Elroy Jefferson's place? Little island with a hig log cabin on it?"

"That's the place."

"Why, I know Elroy Jefferson very welL When he was living on the island in the summer months he used to come down here for his supplies." Mr. Grice cackled with delight at having found a common topic of conversation. "Yes, I know Elroy Jefferson real well. He's a fine fellow, too, but very queer."

"He's a bit eccentric," agreed Frank.

"Yes, he's a queer old chap, but a better man never wore shoe leather. How was he when you was last talkin' to him?"

The boys decided to humor the lonely old storekeeper. Frank reflected that possibly they might learn something about Hanleigh.

"He was quite well. He let us have the cabin for our outing."

"Yes, that's just like Mr. Jefferson. Got a heart of gold, specially where boys is concerned. But queer-mighty queer in some ways," said Amos Grice, again wagging his head. "Do you know"-and he leaned forward

'Postage Stamps 87

very confidentially-"I really think he married Mary Bender because of her postage stamp collection."

This amazing announcement left the Hardy boys rather at a loss for words.

"He married his wife because of her postage stamp collection!" exclaimed Joe.

"That's what I said. You've heard of the Bender stamp collection, haven't you?" he demanded.

The boys shook their heads.

"Well, I ain't a stamp collector and I've beard of it. The Bender collection is supposed to be one of the greatest collections of postage stamps in the world. Why, I've heard tell that it's worth thousands and thousands of dollars."

"And Mrs. Jefferson owned it?"

"Yep. Her name was Mary Bender then, and she inherited it from her father. I got parts of the story from people who knew Mr. Jefferson well. It seems he has always been a collector of antiques and old coins and stamps and things, but one thing he had set his heart on was the Bender stamp collection. But he couldn't buy it. Either Mr. Bender wouldn't sell or Elroy Jefferson couldn't raise the money-but somehow he could never buy them stamps he had set his heart on."

"So he married Mary Bender?"

88 The Mystery of Cabin Island

"Well, now-maybe he didn't marry her entirely on account of the stamps. You see, he used to call at the Bender house quite often, trying to get Mr. Bender to sell the stamps, so in that way he met Mary Bender. I've no doubt he fell in love with her, but, anyway, they got married, and after Mr. Bender died his daughter got the stamps. So, of course, then Mr. Jefferson got 'em. His wife turned 'em over to him as soon as she inherited them."

"And then what?" asked Joe, interested.

"Then," said Amos Grice, with great effect, ''the stamps disappeared."

"Disappeared?"

"They went."

"Stolen?"

"Nobody knows. They just went."

"Haven't they been found?"

"Never been found from that day to this. Not hide nor hair of them stamps has been seen since."

"Didn't they have any clues?" asked Frank. "Were the stamps simply lost?"

"They disappeared," insisted Amos Grice. "And not only the stamps disappeared. There was one of the Jefferson servants dropped out T>f sight at the same time."

"He probably stole the stamps and cleared out," Frank suggested.

"If he stole 'em, why didn't he sell 'emt

Postage Stamps 89

The stamps have never been heard of since they left the Jefferson home. This servant- his name was John Sparewell-could have raised a lot of money by sellin' the stamps, but the stamps would have turned up sooner or later, because only other stamp collectors would have bought 'em. But of all the rare stamps in that collection, not one has ever been found."

"That's a strange yarn," said Frank.

"You bet it's a strange yarn. The stamps were all kept on sheets, in a rosewood box. The day John Sparewell walked out of the Jefferson home, the rosewood box disappeared from the safe it was always kept in."

"Has no one ever heard of Sparewellt Didn't Mr. Jefferson get the police to look for him?"

'' Certainly. But the police never found him. They sent descriptions of this man Sparewell all over the world, but he never turned up. Queerest story I ever did hear. Mary Bender died just a short time after. And ever since the stamps were lost, Elroy Jefferson ain't been the same."

Amos Grice wagged his head sadly.

"How many years ago did this happen?" Frank asked.

"Oh, it must be nigh on fifteen or twenty vcars ago. Guess that explains why you lads

90 The Mystery of Cabin Island

never heard of the Bender stamp case, because there was a lot about it in the newspapers at the time. It was a mighty famous case, I can tell you. It seemed to break Elroy Jefferson all up, because that collection was the pride of his heart, and when it disappeared so strangely, he just didn't seem to take any more interest in anything. What I've always said was that if the police could only find this man John Bparewell, they'd find what happened to the stamps."

"That seems reasonable."

"Yep. That's the way I figgered it out. The only trouble was, they never were able to find Sparewell."

"I wonder wny he stole the stamps if he never sold them," said Joe.

"I guess he was up against it when he tried to sell 'em. He knew that nobody but stamp collectors would buy the collection, and any stamp collector would recognize the Bender collection right away and tell the police. So perhaps he's never been able to sell them and is waitin' until Elroy Jefferson dies before he tries to make any money out of it."

Frank and Joe got up.

"Perhaps that's what happened," Frank agreed. "Well, Mr. Grice, we've been very much interested in the story, but we must be

Postage Stamps 91

getting back to the cabin or our chums will think something has happened to us."

The boys paid for their supplies and then left the store, after saying good-bye to the garrulous old man.

"Come again!" he called after them. "Drop in and have a chat any time you want."

The Hardy boys went down to their iceboat, packed away the supplies of food they had purchased, and headed back toward the island.

"So that's the mystery in Elroy Jefferson'a life," mused Joe.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could find the Bender stamp collection for biint" returned Frank.

CHAPTER XH thh notebook

when the Hardy boys returned to Cabin Island they found Chet and Biff awaiting them hungrily.

"We thought you would never come!" moaned Chet. "Quick-where's the grub! We have a fire all ready. Now for some breakfast!"

"You didn't find the stolen supplies, then," said Frank, bringing in a side of bacon they had bought from Amos Grice.

"No sign of the food at all," admitted Biff ruefully. "No, I think the chap who stole that food took it away with him."

"And ate it," growled Chet, as he poured some ground coffee into the pot.

"We hunted every place we could think of- down in the boathouse, under the trees, all around the cabin-but we didn't find the grub.''

"All I can say is that he must have been a mighty strong man to pack all that stuff away with him in one trip," remarked Joe.

"That's right, too," agreed Biff. "I never thought of that. Perhaps the supplies are

The Notebook 93

around this island yet. Well take another look this afternoon."

For the present, however, their immediate interest was the long-delayed breakfast which Chet was enthusiastically preparing. He soon had bacon and eggs, bread, coffee and jam on the table, and the lads attacked the meal with gusto. Eventually their hearty appetites were appeased.

"What now?" asked Joe.

"I think we ought to spend the rest of the day exploring the island," Frank suggested. "We haven't really looked the place over yet and we might just chance to run across those supplies."

The others agreed that his plan was good, so they donned their coats and caps and set about a systematic search of the island.

Frank, in charge of the hunt, outlined a plan of procedure.

"We'll figure it this way," he said. "Suppose we were coming to this cabin to steal those supplies, with the idea of hiding them. Where could we go T There are only certain directions we could go without ending up at a cliff or without finding ourselves in the deep snow at the top of the island. We'll try to put ourselves in the thief's place."

"If it were I," said Joe, "I'd make right for that clump of trees over to the left. Those sup-

94 The Mystery of Cabin Island

plies were heavy. The thief wouldn't want to carry them very far, yet he would want a good hiding place."

"That's right," agreed the others.

"Well, let's tackle the trees, then."

The boys made their way across the snow-' covered rocks until they reached the clump of bushes Joe had pointed out, and there they searched carefully, kicking away the snow at the base of the trees, in the hope of uncovering the missing supplies.

But their efforts met with no success. They hunted through the entire grove and the only result of their search was that Chet stubbed his toe when he dealt a vicious kick at a rock hidden beneath the snow.

"We're out of luck here," said Frank finally. "Has any one else any good suggestions?"

"Well," said Biff, "if I stole those supplies I'd hide them down by the shore some place, among the rocks."

"We'll give it a try. What's the nearest way to the shore from the cabin!"

"Down that little path at the back."

"Away we go, then!"

They left the clump of trees and ploughed through the snow toward the defile that led down from the rear of the cabin to the rocks along the ice-bound shore. The rocks were covered with snow, but their round masses rose

The Notebook 95

Irregularly against the background of the ice.

"We have a job ahead of us if we start moving all these rocks," objected Chet, with misgivings.

"We're not going to move 'em," said Frank. "That would take us about five years of steady work. We're just going to kick the snow loose."

They attacked the heaps of rocks, prowling' about, kicking gingerly at the snow, dislodging it from the hollows. For some time their efforts met with no success. But at last Biff, who had edged a considerable distance away from his companions, gave a sharp cry.

"I believe there's something here, fellows I"

The others went running over to him.

"What have you found!"

Biff held up an object he had picked up from the snow.

"My foot bumped against this," he explained. "It looks like a can of coffee from our supplies."

"It's the same brand I" declared Chet excitedly.

"We'll hunt carefully all around here," Frank decided. "Perhaps the thief just happened to drop that can of coffee as he was going toward the ice, but perhaps he didn't. It's worth making a good search."

With this clue to guide them, the

96 The Mystery of Cabin Island

plunged into the search with feverish activity. The snow flew in clouds as they rolled away the rocks. After a while, Frank and Joe, dislodging a particularly large boulder, gave a yelli of triumph.

"We've found it!"

The large rock had been placed carefully on top of two others, protecting a big hollow underneath. And in this hollow the boys found the two boxes containing all of the missing supplies. They had been well sheltered from the snow, and were dry and unharmed.

Chet gave a howl of relief.

"Hidden treasure!" he gloated. "So that's where the supplies went! Gome on, fellows I Back to the cabin with them!"

As the lada loaded themselves with boxes, cans, and packages, Frank nodded his head with satisfaction.

"I didn't think they had really been stolen. I guess this pretty well proves that some one hid them here just to get rid of us.''

"A mighty mean trick!" snorted Biff.

"If that can of coffee hadn't rolled out, we'd never have found the supplies," observed Joe. "I'd have thought twice before I'd have tackled that big rock."

"Well, we've found the grub, and that's all that matters," came from Chet.

Joe was emptying one of the boxes when he

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came across an object that he knew had not been among the supplies originally.

"I wonder what this is," he remarked, picking it np.

The object was a small notebook. He glanced through its pages and found that most of them were blank, although there was a certain amount of writing on the opening sheets.

"What's this you've found?" asked his brother, coming over.

Joe handed him the notebook.

"I'm sure none of us had a notebook like this."

"It isn't mine," said Biff.

"Nor mine," added Chet.

Frank's expression brightened.

'' Say, I wonder if it belongs to the chap who stole our supplies. Perhaps it dropped out of his pocket into the box as he was bending over."

"Perhaps the fellow's name is in it," suggested Biff. "Look through it and see."

Frank skimmed the pages.

"Here's where we get the goods on Han-leigh, I'll bet. If this is his notebook, we have positive proof that he stole our supplies."

On the fly leaf of the notebook he came across an inscription. It was a man's name.

But the name was not that of their enemy, Hanleigh.

98 The Mystery of Cabin Island

Written across the page, in a bold, flowing script, they saw the name, " J: Sparewell."

"Well, can you beat that!" exclaimed Chet. "It wasn't Hanleigh, after all."

"Sparewell," mused Frank. "Where have I heard that name before!"

"Nobody around Bayport by the name, that 'I know of," remarked Biff.

"Nor I," added Chet.

They looked at one another, puzzled. Then Joe made a suggestion.

"Perhaps Sparewell and Hanleigh are the same man."

"Perhaps you've hit it," said Frank. "Sparewell-I'm sure I've heard that name before. Oh, now I knowl Don't you remember, Joe? Remember what Amos Grice was telling us this very morning? Remember the Btory he told us about the missing postage stamp collection? Sparewell was the man who disappeared from Elroy Jefferson's home the day the collection was stolen."

"John Sparewell! That was the name. I remember now!" Joe exclaimed. "The very same!"

"What are you fellows talking about?" demanded Chet. "I don't get this at all."

Biff was equally in the dark.

'' Who is Amos Grice ? What did he tell you f What's all this about postage stamps?"

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"The Bender collection! John Sparewell's disappearance!" exclaimed Joe excitedly.

"Hey! Talk sense!" admonished Biff.

"Come on back up to the cabin," said Frank. "We'll tell you all about it. This is sure strange!"