Recovering from the first shock of surprise, the boy sprang to his feet, upsetting his chair.
In three long strides he reached the entrance and jerked aside the canvas flap.
No one was there. But disappearing down the steps Dan saw a lean, dark figure.
“Hey, you!” he shouted furiously.
The intruder only ran the faster, pulling a jacket high around his neck to shield his face.
Angered by the threat and determined to learn who had been spying upon him, Dan started down the steps in hot pursuit.
The intruder, a fleet runner, raced across the beach, heading for a clump of bushes along the highway. Dan pounded closer and closer at his heels.
Then, the one ahead unexpectedly tripped in the loose sand. He stumbled and fell. In a flash Dan was upon him, pulling the jacket away so that he could see the culprit’s face.
“Ross!” he recognized him. “Ross Langdon! Well, of all the dirty, low tricks!”
“Take it easy, will you?” panted the Cub from the rival Den. “You’re smashing my ribs!”