“They surely must be rascals,” remarked Ned, in a whisper.  “I’m half of a mind to have them locked up.”

“That’s easier said than done,” answered Joe.  “Besides, we haven’t any positive proofs against them.”

The wind was now rising, and it soon blew so furiously that the two boys were forced to seek the shelter of the woodshed, since they did not deem it wise to enter the lodge so long as the two men were inside.  They waited in the shed for fully half an hour, when, as suddenly as it had begun, the storm let up and the sun began to peep forth from between the scattering clouds.

“Now we can go home if we wish,” said Joe.  “But for my part, I’d like to stay and see what those men do, and where they go to.”

“Yes, let us stay by all means,” answered the rich youth.

They waited a few minutes longer and then Ned suggested that they look into the window of the lodge once more.  The hermit’s boy was willing, and they approached the larger building with caution.

Much to their astonishment the two strangers had disappeared.

“Hullo! what do you make of that?” cried Ned, in amazement.

“Perhaps they are in one of the other rooms,” suggested Joe.

At the risk of being caught, they entered the lodge and looked into one room after another.  Every apartment was vacant, and they now saw that the fire in the fireplace had been stamped out.

“They must have left while we were in the woodshed,” said Ned.

“Maybe they are out on the lake,” answered the hermit’s boy, and he ran down to the water’s edge, followed by his companion.  But though they looked in every direction, not a craft of any kind was to be seen.

“Joe, they didn’t take to the water, consequently they must have left by one of the mountain paths.”

“That is true, and if they did they’ll have no nice time in getting through.  All the bushes are sopping wet, and the mud is very slippery in places.”

They walked to the rear of the lodge and soon found the footprints of the two strangers.  They led through the bushes and were lost at a small brook that ran into the lake.

“There is no use of our trying to follow this any further,” said Joe.  “You’ll get your clothing covered with water and mud.”

“I don’t intend to follow,” answered Ned.  “Just the same, I should like to know more about those fellows.”

“I wish I had seen their faces.”

“Yes, it’s a pity we didn’t get a better look at them.  But I’d know their voices.”

By the time they gave up the hunt the sun was shining brightly.  Both walked to where the boat had been left, and Joe turned the craft over so that the water might run out.  Then he mopped off the seats as best he could.

Ned wanted to go directly home, and he and Joe rowed the craft in the direction of Riverside.  As they passed along the lake shore the hermit’s boy noted that several trees had been struck by lightning.