"Show me a light here," commanded Tad going down on his knees and gathering up all the burnt matches he could find. "That is a fine trail you are leaving. Why, were any one to come in here, he would discover instantly that strangers had been here."
"I—-I never thought of that," stammered Chunky.
"We must think of everything. Our very lives may depend on our doing so."
"Wha—-what do you mean, Tad?"
"Don't you understand yet?"
"I—-I guess I begin to. Some—-somebody's been here."
"Yes. It is my opinion that the very men Captain McKay is looking for have been here. Come, we must be quick! We are likely to be interrupted at any time, though I hardly think any of them would come here in the daytime."
The boys were obliged to stoop in order to continue their explorations further. After creeping under the low-hanging rock they found that they were able to stand erect once more. Then they discovered something else. There were bales piled on top of one another, packs securely tied lying about, guns, rugs, in fact a miscellaneous assortment of goods which the boys believed to be of great value. In one corner stood a chest securely padlocked. It was a rough chest, bound with iron bands that looked as if they might have been used on cotton bales.
"Well, we have made a discovery, Stacy Brown!" breathed Tad.
"We have," agreed the fat boy, his eyes growing large with wonder.
"What do you suppose is in that chest?"