“I’ll bet anything my compass and fog-horn are in that chest,” said Hal, eyeing it suspiciously. “I guess I’ll have a look.”
“I wouldn’t,” said Jack. “We haven’t any right in here really, and it wouldn’t be a very nice thing to do, Hal.”
“But he stole my things!” Hal objected.
“Maybe he did; I think so too; but I don’t like the idea of sneaking into a man’s house while he’s away and prying into his chest. We’ll have a look in the shed. Just hear those clocks tick. Funny we didn’t notice them at first. He’s got some dandies here, too. Look at this one, Hal. That must have cost sixty or seventy dollars.”
“Wonder where he—”
“If you say that again,” warned Bee, “I’ll beat you. You’re worse than a parrot! Come on out to the shed and let’s see if we can’t find the boat-hook.”
“All right,” said Jack. “Old Bill may be back soon and we might as well get away before he comes.”
“Wait a minute,” exclaimed Hal. “Look up there, fellows!”
They followed the direction of Hal’s finger and saw a trap door that evidently opened into a space between the ceiling and the roof.
“I’ll bet you anything,” said Hal eagerly, “that that’s where he hides his loot.”