“Nonsense,” exclaimed Jerry. “Let’s look around.”
The boys proceeded to make an examination of the interior of the shed. As Andy had related, it was in some confusion. Tools of various kinds were scattered about, and several boxes and chests had been broken open, and the contents, consisting of supplies for the craft, some canned food stuffs and spare parts, had been taken out. A big hammer near the front doors showed how the latter had been broken open.
“Those doors were smashed from inside!” cried Ned, after a more careful scrutiny.
“What makes you think so?” asked Jerry.
“Because the hammer’s thrown down inside, and the way the bolts are bent shows that the force was from within.”
“From within, eh?” murmured Jerry. “That’s interesting.”
“What does it indicate?” inquired Bob, who was not always so quick to see a point as were his two chums.
“Why it shows that the robbers, whoever they were, got into this shed from some other entrance than the big doors,” went on Jerry.
“Of course!” cried Ned. “The small door at the back! Why didn’t we think of it before? That’s the way Sud Snuffles goes in and out nights. I remember he said it was too much trouble to open the big double doors, and Sud was never very fond of work.”
“Come on; we must look for Sud, and see if the side door has been forced,” decided Jerry.