“Is that agreeable to everyone or does anyone have any objections or want to add something?” asked Paul.
“Only this,” spoke up Bobolink, “and that’s to keep a constant watch at the cave.”
“We’ll come to that when we work out the details,” interrupted Jack. “For the present, I’m sure that we’re all agreed to the proposal advanced by Wallace.”
For the next three hours the boys sat in a group and designed a plan. Every detail was taken care of and everyone was sure that it would work out well.
Very early the following morning, all the eight boys, with full packs on their backs and wearing their Boy Scout uniforms, marched out of Stanhope and took the road to the mountain. Wallace pointed out to them the abandoned farm house, behind which was the road leading to the mysterious airport. Jack’s immediate suggestion was that they enter and search it. All the boys eagerly assented and lots were drawn for the two who would enter the house, two who would search the yard and barn while the others were to deploy and be on the watch. Paul and Wallace won the chance to enter the house, while Ken and Jack were to explore the yard and barn.
The boys withdrew from the road and put all their packs together, with Bluff to watch over them. William was stationed at one point to carefully watch the main road; he himself was to keep in hiding and not to be seen. Bobolink was directed to watch the back of the house and Nuthin’ was told to walk back on the road about a quarter of a mile and to watch for any suspicious characters and keep a general lookout.
Paul and Wallace approached the house silently, carefully, examining the exterior of the house with each step. Circling the house, they found that several of the windows were broken and nailed with boards. As a whole, the house was not in bad condition and was habitable. Several signs led them to believe that the house had been used on and off recently. Paul pointed to a number of footprints that did not appear to be very old; Wallace spied a banana peel which could not have been more than about ten days or two weeks old. At the back of the house the boys came across pieces that appeared to have been chopped in the recent past. Turning to his friend, Wallace remarked, “Looks like they used this place all right.”
“Yes,” agreed Paul. “And I think that we’ll most likely find a lot of interesting things inside.”
The boys approached the front door and Paul tried the knob. It wouldn’t open. The boys tugged and pushed but the door held fast. “What are we going to do,” asked Paul, “break in the door?”
“No. Let’s pry away the boards from one of the windows and gain entrance that way.”