“Let’s give him till noon in case it was such a hurried matter that he had not time to run back for his rifle. We might even wait until six o’clock. You know we have always made it a rule that we should never be gone more than twenty-four hours on a search without letting the others know in some way that we are safe. Sundown tonight would not be exactly twenty-four hours, but it would be near enough,” advised Phil. Garry agreed that this was sound advice and they went off to breakfast. They found Barrows was almost through.
“Why don’t you fellows start out this morning and look for him? One of you could go in one direction and one in the other. If you know anything of the woods, you could soon find signs of him if he were wandering about,” suggested Barrows.
Garry told him that they had decided to wait until nightfall before getting really worried. At this the manager allowed a satisfied gleam to show in his eyes. Both the boys were narrowly watching him, and noted this. After breakfast they came back to the shack, and once safe inside, Garry whispered to Phil:
“Watch every move from now on. That business of Barrows telling us to go in different directions on such a wild goose chase was entirely too obvious. He wants us to get separated. Keep your rifle close by you every minute, and tonight we’ll establish a watch same as we have done in the woods when there was danger near. First thing this morning is to go to the spot where we agreed to leave notes for the hermit, and leave a letter telling him what has happened and asking him to take a look at the shack on the other side of Kanamo Lake.”
Hastily writing the note, and watching that they were not followed they slipped out of the camp and ran to the appointed postoffice.
Garry reached his hand in as a matter of course, and was surprised to find that there was a note in the natural receptacle.
He brought it out, and with Phil leaning over his shoulder, read it. It contained a distinct shock for both. Here was what they read:
“Attacked by men and letter to your father stolen. Hit on head and left lying in road. Use all caution. The Bear is in the woods.”
The usual lone pine symbol was attached.
“Well, we are discovered, Garry,” said Phil. “Barrows must have had the hermit followed and has read the letter. I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he knew what we talked about last night. Question now is whether he was instrumental in bringing about Dick’s absence.”