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.