THE SECRET OF THE OLD WHARE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE SECRET OF THE OLD WHARE.

Br AYMEE MOTJNXFOIJT. Ohaiune

CHAPTER IK

The cave mouth opened out 0/ a bank into a clearing in the bush some fifty yards from tho river. Of a sudden the cagle-eye of Glen caught sight of a convulsive movement in a thicket not far off, and, with a shout, he, with Harry hard on his heels, dashed toward the rustling. Taking their direction from the vegetation broken by the absconding " spooier," for such they now had no doubt that ho was, they were soon at the river's brink, where the first thing that arrested their attention, was a canoe, in it a single figure plying the paddle vigorously, which swept round the bend a few seconds after they caught eight of if. The chagrined lads once more had the pleasure of knowing that their phantom enemy had again eluded their efforts to capture him. " Hang it alb" panted Glen. " Whatever does lie think he's up to anyway ?" " I couldn't say exactly," replied Harry. " But I think ho must have at least ono pal, and thsy they must know us. My idea is that some fellows arc trying to play a practical ioko on us. They knew we were coming this way, and so kept a look-out. When they sighted us, ono of them slipped across tho river iri their canoo trailing a rope behind him, dumped tho canoe beneath some branches arranged for tho purpose, and hid. When our bow was over the rope they gave a sharp, upward heave, and over n-o went. It was rather a coincidence that a pig should £runt just at tho critical moment. Before wo could right the canoe, ono of them would have hauled in the rope, and so, of course, wo couldn't find anything that would have overturned us."

" Yes, I thought it out that way," said Glen. " And I think we are right, because what other motive would anyone have for upsetting us. Cut what of the giggle and the tent-flap episode?" "I.can understand them giggling," replied Harry. ' " The success of 1 heir plan was enough' to cause that, but as for the pulling at the tent-flap, well, I'm stumped." " So am I," admitted Glen. " The whare business has mo beat9n too, but I do think we must have surprised them, for they couldn't have expected us there."

■" By ihe way," observed his rnata, " how about collecting that treasure and taking it into camp?" " It wouldn't be a had idea," agreed tho other.

In a very short tirno they wore once more inside the old whare, hut to their consternation tho treasure was not where they left it, and search as they might, they could not re-discover it! " It's clear enough now," groaned Harryi dismally. " They enticed us away so as to be able to pinch the treasure. Oh, what blind aises we wero to stay away so long! If woY} only como back a little quicker we might have caught them red-handed." " Well, it's no use crying over roilt milk," said Glen, 113 cheerfully as he could, while ho tried the whare door, which was as fast as ever. " Lrok here, it is no use trying to track tiietn, as there are bound to be too many tracks round each entrance, so lot us go back to camp and have something to eat, and by that time wo mav think of some plan to lay them hy the hoels," " Lead on," grunted Harry, When they wero once more elear of the subterraneous passage-way they made their way down a bush track and suddenly they observed some smoko rising from the direction of their tent. " I believe there is someone in our camp." exclaimed Glen. " 1 know we put the fire out. Of all tho cheek'. Let ns creep up and see who it is." (To bo continued.) Whom did the boys Ctcd fn their tent? What was the secret ol the old whare? Five-shilling prize for concluding chapter!