“Mr. Holloway and Fred will need some help cleaning up the place,” Dan declared. “Also, if Jacques is there, I’d like to talk to him again.”
“He seemed to go for you more than anyone else,” Brad said, signaling to a bus driver. “Maybe you can get him to loosen up a bit.”
The sun was high overhead as the three Cubs alighted from the bus ten minutes later. Crossing the beach, they climbed to the Cave.
Entering, they saw at once that something was amiss. Mr. Holloway and Fred were there alone, their brooms discarded. Rather dejectedly they sat at a table, studying an object which was hidden from view.
“Hi!” Dan greeted the pair. “Where’s Jacques? We thought you were bringing him here.”
“We did,” replied Fred significantly.
The other Cubs looked quickly about the disordered room. Plainly Jacques was nowhere in the Cave.
“Where is he?” Brad demanded. “Don’t keep us in suspense. He didn’t take a turn for the worse?”
Mr. Hatfield shook his head.
“No, Jacques appeared fine when last we saw him. This will explain.” He thrust a note into Brad’s hand. “The lad left it here a few minutes ago.”