With great care they concealed themselves behind some brushwood and there waited for a long time in silence. Some of the boys were just about thinking that the men would never come when they heard voices in the distance.
“Here they are, I think,” whispered Gif. And then Mr. Stevenson put his finger over his lips and all became silent.
Peering through the brushwood, Jack saw that two of the men were Carl Lemrech and Tex Norris. The third individual was short and stocky and his face bore a strong resemblance to that of Tommy Flanders.
“Oh, you needn’t be disturbed, Flanders,” said Carl Lemrech, in his German accent. “We got the goods. It’s the same book that was sold to that man Stevenson.”
“You’d better not mention names around here, Lemrech,” grumbled Mr. Flanders.
“Oh, this is a very lonely place. Nobody ever comes here,” put in Tex Norris.
Thus talking, the three men entered the cabin, leaving the door, however, wide open. There were two windows on one side of the building, and these were open also.
“I’m going forward to investigate,” whispered Mr. Stevenson. “If I give the signal, jump out and point your guns at them. I don’t want any of them to get away.”
“Gee, this is getting real exciting!” murmured Randy. All the boys had brought their weapons with them, but more for a show of arms than for any thought of actually using them.