"I wish we were all safe together again, aboard the _Modoc_," remarked Ned, after a moment's pause.
"Same here," echoed Bart. "But, if we're--"
He was interrupted by a sound off to the left. Gazing in that direction the boys saw, coming along the trail toward them, a man and girl. Something about them seemed familiar.
"And his daughter!" added Frank, in a lower voice.
"Well! Well!" exclaimed the man, whose lucky escape from the automobile accident in Darewell, had led to the boys' acquaintance with him. "If here aren't my young friends, the Darewell Chums, come to pay me a visit! I'm very glad to see you, but I thought there were four of you."
"So there are, father," interrupted Ruth. "Where is Fenn?" she asked, turning quickly to the three boys. "Is he ill--didn't he come with you?"
"He's lost!" replied Frank. "We're hunting for him."
"Lost?" repeated Mr. Hayward. "How? Where?"
Frank briefly related what had happened since they had started from Darewell on the cruise to Duluth.
"Well I never!" exclaimed Robert Hayward. "That's a great story! And the last trace you have of him is down that hole?"
"The very last," answered Ned, looking at Ruth, and not blaming Fenn for thinking she was pretty.
"This must be looked into," declared Mr. Hayward. "Lucky I happened to be out here with my daughter. You see I live several miles from here, but to-day, Ruth and I decided to take a little trip. I--I wanted to look at some land I--some property I am interested in out here. I was on my way to it when I saw you boys."
The man seemed to have a curious hesitation in his manner and his words, and Ruth, too, appeared under some strain. But the boys were too anxious about their comrade to pay much attention to this.
"Where are you going, father?" asked Ruth.
"I'm going to find Fenn Masterson. I think I have a clue that will help us," and he strode forward, followed by his daughter and the wondering boys.
Mutual surprise showed on the face of Fenn, as well as on the countenance of the man who made this surprising announcement in the cave, where we have left that rather unfortunate youth. The boy, who had been prepared to meet a band of Chinese smugglers, now saw before him the mysterious person, who appeared to have some interest in the affairs of Mr. Hayward, and who seemed to be pleased that misfortune should overtake the man who had recovered from the auto accident near Fenn's house.