"What's the matter, Frank?" instantly questioned the other, looking around him in surprise.
"Why, I wonder how it comes that the door is ajar. We both know as well as anything that we made sure to shut it securely at the time we left."
"Then Bluff and Jerry must have got back home!" exclaimed Will, excited again. "Since they don't seem to be here, I reckon they've set off to search for us, believing we must have gone out for a stroll, and been caught in the storm."
"You forget one thing, Will."
"Do you mean the boat?" demanded the other, quickly. "Well, it doesn't seem to be around, for a fact, Frank; and, sure! it ought to be if they'd come home."
"Well, let's go inside now," remarked the other. "If they did come home, and have gone out again, I think they would have left some word for us."
No sooner had the two boys entered the cabin than they could see that some one had been there. A home-made chair was lying on its side on the floor; also some things had been swept from the heavy table which Frank had repaired so that it stood firmly on its four legs now.
Will looked around, and then turned his eyes on Frank.
"Somebody or some animal has certainly been in here since we left yesterday, or I miss my guess!" he announced.
"There's no question about that," returned Frank, a puzzled look on his face. "And as we fastened the door in the only way we have, which would prevent any but an educated monkey from opening it, I can't believe any wild beast entered here. Take that from me, Will."