The first thing that Paul noticed was another lantern on the floor of the cavern.
"Here, light this, Jack, with that precious match!" he cried, after shaking the lantern to find out whether it contained any oil.
"What under the sun does it all mean?" gasped the breathless Bobolink.
Joe seemed to be just as anxious as either of the others to know, although he did not say a single word.
"I happened on two men who were sleeping here," said Paul. "Notice the blankets and the things for cooking, will you? They must have had a hold-out here. Perhaps they chased Ted and his crowd out of the cave, because, if you look, you can see that aluminum frying pan Ward Kenwood used to carry around with him, and which he must have forgotten in his hurry to leave."
"Did you know them, Paul?" asked Jack.
Paul turned so that he could watch Joe while he replied.
"I never saw the fellow called Pim before. He
was a tough customer, too; either a regular tramp or a yeggman; and I guess from his looks he must have been ready for any game, from robbing a bank to stealing a farmer's chickens."
"How about the other?" Jack kept on.