“We can carry you the rest of the way if we have to,” answered Jack. “In fact, I can start to carry you right now,” he added.
But Randy would not submit to this, and so the whole crowd started off through the woods on foot, Jeff and Gif leading the way. They carried their suitcases with them, but left the bundles behind.
By the aid of the searchlight it was comparatively easy to find the path through the woods, and once on this they found walking not so bad. Toward the end of the journey Randy lagged a little, and thereupon Jack insisted that his cousin get on his back.
When they finally reached the bungalow they found the long, low, one-story building in absolute darkness. The front door had two padlocks upon it, and Gif produced the keys given to him by his father and unlocked the portal and threw it open. Then he threw the rays of the searchlight into the living room. At once came a scurry of little feet and then several dark objects scuttled through an open doorway toward the rear of the building.
“What were they?” questioned Spouter quickly.
“I don’t know. Either rats or squirrels. Anyway, they’re gone,” answered Gif. “Come on in out of the rain,” for the wind was blowing the rain well under the wide porch of the bungalow.
By the illumination afforded by the flashlight the boys could see that the living room of the bungalow was plainly but neatly furnished with a big square table, several chairs and two long benches. To one side was a large fireplace on which some wood had been placed ready for lighting.
“We’ll soon have this place looking more comfortable,” said Gif. “We’ll get a good fire started, and then we can dry our clothing. In the meantime Jeff can go into the kitchen and stir things up there.”
“How are you going to get a meal with the grub left behind?” questioned Andy.