“We mustn’t forget that our folks went on a treasure hunt once before,” announced Jack. “They went down to an island in the West Indies looking for a lost treasure that belonged to my mother and her family,” he concluded, referring to an affair which has been related in detail in the volume entitled, “The Rover Boys on Treasure Isle; or, The Strange Cruise of the Steam Yacht.”
The boys continued to talk about the treasure until it was time to turn in. Fred, however, could give but few more details and he and his cousins hoped that Fred’s father would soon announce what he proposed to do.
“I’d like to go on a trip like that before I settle down in business,” said Jack, and his youngest cousin agreed with him.
In spite of the witch-hazel and the liniment he used that night, Andy felt stiff and lame the next morning and was quite content to stay around the lodge for all of that day. Fred and Randy remained with him, Jack going off with Gif and Spouter to do some hunting and fishing.
“I wish I had the necessary materials at hand so that I could develop those pictures I snapped,” said Randy when the others were gone. “Then I’d find out whether I’d got a picture of that auto or not.”
“I hope you did get a picture, and that it proves to be just as clear as the one Ruth took of the horse race,” returned Andy. “I’d like to get that fellow’s number and then go and report him.”
“I don’t think it was the car run by Slugger Brown and Nappy Martell,” said Fred.
“No, it was a different machine. But that doesn’t say those fellows might not have been in it.”
While Andy took it easy in a hammock under the trees his brother and Fred put the lodge in order, for the boys knew that the owners of the place would expect them to do this.
“We won’t be able to stay here much longer,” said Fred. “Because I know that in a few days at the most Gif and Spouter will want to be on their way.”