Then, in low tones, the boys told Truem of their adventures since arriving at Winnsocket Lodge, ending with the disappearance of Bert.
“That’s the strangest part of all—how Bert could disappear so mysteriously,” said Truem. “Are you sure there’s not some sort of a secret door in the cellar?”
“We’ve been over every corner of it,” said Chot.
“Well, we’d better go over it again by daylight.”
“We will. What bothers me is why Bert ran into the lodge so quickly. Something must have startled him into action, for he motioned to us to come and disappeared inside like a flash.”
“Well, it’s too deep for me,” said Fleet. “I’m afraid something has happened to him.”
“And I’m afraid to go to bed to-night,” said Pod.
“That suggests to me that it will be a good plan to sit up, two at a time, and watch,” said Chot.
“Including Hoki?” inquired Tom.
“Yes; I’ll take the Jap as my partner. We’ll stand the first watch till twelve; then Tom and Pod can take it up till three, and Truem and Fleet can watch from three till daylight.”