"I have something else to tell you about the cave," said Owen who was the first to speak. "You know old Bowen came up here the day after the shooting-match to inquire about Charlie; then he wanted to know where we slept the night we went to the cave."
"How does he know anything about the place?"
"That's just what I don't see; but from the way he asked the question I began to think he knew something about it. Father and mother talk about him every night. Father can't understand how it is that old Bowen's corn-crib has burned the last three years—and burned, mind you, just at the beginning of winter, when he had it full of corn."
"And what has that to do with the cave?" asked Martin.
"Nothing, as far as I can see. But father thinks that old Bowen is a rascal; that something will turn up one of these days and surprise everyone."
"If he does find out about the cave," said Martin, "he will charge that fellow who wants to buy it twice as much as it is worth."
"He will not find out from us. That man treated us kindly. We promised not to tell, and we must keep our promise."
"Just what I think about it, Owen! But I wish the fellow would hurry on and buy it. You see, we'll spend a whole day going through it."
"Do you think he will take us in as partners, because we've kept the secret so well?" asked Owen.
"I didn't think of that. We can be the guides to show the people around."