“We’d have to watch the place and sneak in whenever we got the chance.”
“I don’t think it will work,” Brad said slowly. “But I’m willing to try. Shall we tell the other Cubs?”
“Let’s not, Brad. The idea may flop. Let’s just slip away.”
“I’ll leave a note for Mr. Hatfield,” Brad said, scribbling on the page of a notebook he took from his pocket. “If anything should happen that we don’t get back right away, he might worry.”
The older boy left the message in plain view on his bed. Buttoning themselves into their slickers, the pair then quitted the tent. Unnoticed, they followed the shore for a distance, and then sliced through the dunes to the woodland surrounding Jabowski’s place.
As upon the first occasion they had viewed the old hotel, it appeared completely deserted. This time, however, the boys were not deceived.
“Jabowski and his nephew both are inside probably,” Brad said. “Our only chance is to lie in wait until we see Jabowski leave. Then we might try to get in. We’re taking a fearful chance though.”
For three quarters of an hour, the two Cubs shivered in their inadequate shelter of bushes. Rain continued to fall. During the entire time, no one entered or left the hotel.
“We can’t stick here forever,” Brad said at length. “Mr. Hatfield will be sending a searching party after us.”
“I guess my idea was a bum one again,” Dan admitted, brushing a mop of damp hair from his eyes. “Want to leave?”