“Here, where the grass is trodden down. Now, don’t get frightened. Just wait for me.” Polly started down the rocky path, and at its base looked around cautiously. Not a living soul was in sight anywhere, but even while she hesitated, she saw Sue’s form come apparently out of the ground itself over in a rocky enclosure, well sheltered from wind and wave. Polly turned, called to the rest to follow, and ran ahead to join Sue.
“It’s a camp,” Sue said excitedly, as she reached her. “And there’s a real cave, Polly, and a bed in it, and dishes, and the bed’s just been slept in, and there’s a coffee pot in there that’s still warm.”
“Sue, I never knew you were such a splendid detective,” Polly answered, warmly. “Let’s drink the pirates’ coffee right away.”
But Ruth and Kate arrived and advised caution until they found out just what the mystery was.
“It’s probably only some fishermen,” said Nancy, in her matter-of-fact way. “Father’d be sure to know if any strangers had arrived and settled here.”
Polly started for the entrance to the cave.
“There may be somebody in there,” Ruth cried. “Please don’t go in.”
“There’s nobody at home,” Sue replied. “I’ve been in.”
It was a good-sized cave, Polly saw, as soon as she ventured into it. The floor was of finest sand. There was a bed, a very primitive bed, but yet a bed, made of branches of pine with blankets spread over them. Some boxes served as seats, and a ledge of rock as a shelf for some dishes. But Polly’s quick eyes noticed a couple of suitcases in one corner and sundry articles of clothing lying around such as no consistent smuggler or pirate would have deigned to don. When she came out into the sunlight and faced the girls, she was smiling.
“Do fishermen around here have books and magazines lying around in caves?” she asked. “There are all sorts of such things in this cave.”