After a while they could hear the voices of the two men again, not far ahead.
"Go easy," one was saying. "You never know who's likely to be prowling around here these nights."
"Too many police been nosing around these parts to suit me."
"We've got to take those chances."
The boys emerged into a clearing on the slope just in time to see the two men disappearing into the heavy wood on the opposite side. The clearing lay wide and deserted in the bright moonlight.
"They're up to some mischief," said Frank. "We'll have to be careful they don't see us."
"I wonder what those long poles are for!"
"They're not fishing poles. Too short and straight for that."
"Well, we'll soon find out. I think we're on the trail of something big."
"I'm sure of it."