“Of course we ought,” broke in Cal. “There may be something there to give us a clue. What do you say, Larry?”
“It is a good suggestion of Tom’s, and we’ll act upon it at once.”
Turning in a direction opposite to that which led to their own camp the boys visited the spot where Dunbar had lived before they came to Quasi. They searched in every direction, but found no trace of any of the man’s belongings. It was rapidly growing dark when at last they gave up the work of exploring, and decided to resume it again in the morning.
As they approached their camp through the woods and thickets, they were surprised to see their camp-fire blazing up briskly, though none of them had been near it since the early morning. As they came out of the bushes, they were still more astonished to see Dunbar busying himself with supper preparations. Larry had just time enough before Dunbar saw them to say to the others in an undertone:
“Not a word about this, boys, until he asks.”
“Good evening, young gentlemen,” was Dunbar’s greeting, delivered in a cheery voice; “I have taken the liberty of getting supper under way in anticipation of your coming. I am sure you must be tired and hungry after a hard day’s shooting. By the way, a cup of tea is always refreshing when one is tired, and fortunately I have a little packet of the fragrant herb among my things. I’ll run up there and fetch it.”
As he spoke he started off briskly and nimbly.
“Evidently he isn’t tired, anyhow,” suggested Dick.
“And evidently he has some dry place in which to keep his things,” added Cal, “and I mean to ask him about it.”
“Don’t,” said Larry, earnestly. “That would be grossly impertinent.”