During the next few days, the Cubs made what arrangements they could for costumes. The mothers of the two Dens came through splendidly, fashioning garments of whatever materials they had on hand.
On the whole, the Cubs felt that the play would not be quite the flop they had feared. Nevertheless, resentment flared again when Ross displayed the elegant costume he had purchased at a theatrical supply store.
Among some of the boys it was whispered that Ross still expected to be awarded the star role in the play.
And though Dan and Brad tried to quiet such rumblings, the Cubs continued to hint that he might have had something to do with starting the disastrous fire.
“If Ross is innocent, the Cubs are doing him a terrible injustice,” Brad said to his friend early Saturday. The two boys had walked to the Castle grounds, and by intention were there ahead of the Pack.
“I wish we could find how the fire really started,” Dan replied soberly. “So much time has elapsed now, all clues probably have been destroyed.”
“We may find some more of those arrows, Dan. They may or may not have significance.”
The two boys were hopeful of coming upon evidence to indicate that the fire had been of accidental nature or had been started by the mysterious “ghost” of the Castle.
Their task proved most discouraging. As they wandered through the blackened, charred area, they found not a single clue. They did observe that the damage to shrubs and trees had been relatively slight.
“It looks to me as if Ross told the truth about cleaning up the brush,” Brad declared, pausing beside a large pile of charred sticks and debris. “See! He must have gathered it all here in this one place.”