THE HIDDEN CACHE When camp was made snug and dinner disposed of, Doctor Joe followed the boys down to the cairn.

A careful examination was made of the soil surrounding the rock upon which the cairn was built, and in loose gravel close to the shore were found the imprints of feet.

It was evident, however, that rain had fallen since the tracks were made, for they were so nearly washed away that there could be no certainty whether they were made by moccasins or nailed boots.
"'Twere a week ago they were here whatever," observed David, rising upon his feet after a close scrutiny upon hands and knees.

"I'm thinkin' we'll see no sign of un now to help us trail un to the rock the writin' tells about." "The ground was hard froze a week ago just as 'tis now," said Lige.
"They'd be leavin' no tracks on froze ground." "They makes the tracks that shows here whether the ground were froze or not," observed Seth.
"The gravel were loose and dry so 'tweren't froze," explained Lige, "but away from the dry gravel 'twere all froze, and they'd make no tracks to show.

Leastways that's how I thinks about un." "That's good logic," said Doctor Joe.