Painfully and slowly, we managed to trail Long Sin's footprints,
until we came to a road where they were lost in the hard macadam.
There was no time to stop. We must follow the road on the chance
that he had taken it. But which way?

Kennedy chose the most likely direction, for the trail had been at
an angle to the road and Long Sin was not likely to double back.
We had not gone many rods before Kennedy paused a minute and
looked about in the moonlight.

"It's right, Walter," he cried. "Do you recognize it?"

I looked about. Then it flashed over me. This was the back road
that led past the entrance to the treasure vault at Aunt Tabby's.

We went on now more quickly, listening carefully to catch any
sounds, but heard nothing. At last Kennedy stopped, then plunged
among the rocks and bushes beside the road. We were at the cave.

"You go in this way, Walter," he directed. "I'll go around and
down where it caved in."

I groped my way along through the darkness.

I had gone only a yard or two, when it seemed as though something
had grasped my foot.

With a great wrench I managed to pull it loose. But the weight on
my other foot had imbedded it deeper. I struggled to free this