"No, I've been on a number of false trails, but I somehow feel that luck is going to turn now."
Mr. Blackford, who said he had been invited by Mr. Franklin to make himself at home in the cabin of the boys, turned in and helped them get ready a simple meal. It was now night, and the boys were tired out from buffeting the storm. But they were in good spirits, and glad to see their friend.
After the meal, at which all present displayed good appetites, they went over to the girls' cabin, where they found Betty and her chums in dry clothes sitting before a roaring fire.
"My, this looks like all the comforts of home!" exclaimed Mr. Blackford approaching the blaze and rubbing his hands. "You certainly have it fine here!"
"So you have good news?" queried Grace, for Will had slipped over for a moment to give a hint of what was to come.
"Yes, I have a description of my sister's birth mark now. So if you see her—or if I do—we can identify her."
"I hope we do find her," spoke Betty sympathetically. "What sort of a mark is it?"
"It is the letter 'V' on her left arm, just above the elbow," returned Mr. Blackford.
"That ought to be easy to see—especially in summer time when the girls wear short sleeves," said Will. "But in winter it would be rather awkward going about asking a girl if she had the letter 'V' tattooed on her elbow. She might think you were trying to jolly her."
"It isn't a tattoo mark," said Mr. Blackford, as he consulted the description, the torn-off piece having been pasted on to make it complete. "It's a red birth-mark, this paper says, and is in the shape of a 'V'. I do hope it will lead to something. If you girls——"