The bully and his crony had, from a distance, watched the departure of the Rovers. As can be guessed from their conversation, they had visited the island several times before, each time taking care that none of the others should discover their presence. On their trips they had been strongly tempted to "rough-house" the cabin occupied by Jack and his cousins, but they had not dared to do this, fearing it might cause the Rovers to go on guard.
"And anyhow, we're not here for that purpose now," Slugger Brown had observed. "We want to get those land deeds for my dad and old Lemon."
The two youths had come close to the side of the cabin and peered in at one of the windows, and it was this noise that had attracted Barney Stevenson's attention. But they had managed to keep out of sight of the old lumberman by flinging themselves down behind some bushes. They watched the departure of Uncle Barney with interest, and at once resolved to follow him.
"Of course we haven't any snowshoes; so maybe we won't get very far," said Slugger, "but we will do the best we can."
Unconscious that his movements were being so closely observed, Uncle Barney plunged deep into the woods, taking a trail which was familiar to him. In some spots the snow lay deep, but in the majority of places the wind had swept the ground almost bare, so Slugger and Nappy had no great difficulty in following in the old man's footsteps.
"He doesn't seem to be going out after any game," observed Nappy presently. "I just saw a rabbit running ahead of him, and he never even raised his gun."
"I think I know where he's going," answered Slugger. "We'll soon find out if I'm right."
"You mean that cave your father once spoke about?"
"That's it, Nappy."
"What is there about that cave that makes it so important?" went on the other curiously.