CHAPTER 15 A Message
As Dan and Brad walked up, the Cubs broke up their circle.
"Having a little conference?" the Den Chief inquired pointedly.
"Oh, just talking," Midge Holloway replied uneasily.
The group was comprised of Red, Chips, Midge and Fred.
Brad fixed his gaze disapprovingly upon the four conspirators.
"I'm ashamed of you," he said. "Plotting behind Mr. Hatfield's back. Youdidn't figure on letting Dan or me know what you were doing either!"
"We haven't done anything yet," Midge defended the group. "Furthermore,we haven't had a chance to talk over this matter with anyone. My Dadbrought us out here only ten minutes ago."
"It seems you had to come back into the woods for your high-poweredconference," Brad said sternly. "I guess you didn't want Mr. Holloway tohear you."
"What if we didn't?" Red demanded, glaring at the Den Chief. "You hadyour chance to do something about Ross and you let it slide. Now it's ourturn."
"And just what do you have against him? Let's hear your evidence."
"We've got plenty," Red announced grimly. "The lug bought himself a fancycostume and didn't kick in a dime to pay for the fire damage."
"He was lucky enough to have bought his costume before the troubledeveloped. Why be jealous?"
"We're not jealous," Chips broke in. "We believe in justice, that's all.From the way Ross acted, we're sure he never did his work here as he wassupposed to. Either that, or he came out and started the fire."
"You seem a bit hazy as to what you think he did do."
"One way or the other, he was responsible for the fire," Chips insisted.
"That's wild talk, and Dan and I can prove it!" Brad replied. "We'velearned how the fire did start."
The two boys showed the other Cubs the dead bonfire ashes, the tin canand the charred weiner.
"Ross wouldn't have built a fire this way," Midge conceded. "You'reright, Brad. We've misjudged him."
"If Ross didn't start the fire, then who did?" demanded Red.
"That's the question we'd all like to have answered," Dan told him. "Ifwe could find the answer, it might clear us at the bank."
"We might try to keep watch of this road," Brad suggested. "I have ahunch whoever started that fire will be using it again. By watching wemight learn something."
The other Cubs agreed that the proposal was a good one. They pointed out,however, that with Mr. Kain on hand to see that no one roved too farafield, any sleuthing must be carried on under difficulties.
"I admit we're handicapped," Brad acknowledged. "At any rate we know thisroad is the place to watch."
The Cubs emerged from the woods just as Mr. Hatfield drove up withanother car loaded with boys from Den 1. Ross was among them.
Seeing the group of Den 2 boys, he turned as if to walk in the oppositedirection.
"Ross!" called Brad.
The boy turned reluctantly and waited for the Den Chief. Then before Bradcould tell him about the discovery, he said:
"I know the fellows are sore at me, thinking I caused all the troublewith the bank. I'm quitting the Pack. You can have my costume if you wantit. Or give it to Dan."
"Ross, you can't leave the outfit," Brad protested. "We need you."
"The Cubs will be glad to see me go. I've annoyed them from the start,and now they think I caused the fire."
"They may have thought that at first, but they have the right slant now.Listen, Ross, you can be a big help in straightening this mess out if youwill."
The Den Chief then told him of the discovery made near the old road.
"You can help us try to learn the identity of the Castle ghost," heurged. "If we find him, we may learn who caused the fire."
Brad's words encouraged Ross. "I'll keep watch," he promised. "I didn'twant to drop out of the Pack--but the fellows have made it plenty toughfor me."
"I know," Brad admitted. "Just don't act so know-it-all and theirattitude will change."
Rehearsals began presently. As yet Mr. Kain had not appeared on thescene, and the boys were hopeful that he would fail to come.
However, shortly after the actual filming began, his car drove up.
Obviously displeased, Mr. Kain watched the boys for a few minutes. Thenhe began a minute inspection of the Castle itself.
"He's looking around to see if he can't find where we've damagedsomething," Chips muttered. "If he discovers a single thing he'll use itas an excuse to bounce us for good."
Made uncomfortable by Mr. Kain's presence, the boys did not act theirparts well. Repeatedly, Mr. Holloway had to take scenes over.
Mr. Kain completed his inspection of the inside of the Castle andreturned to watch rehearsals.
As the sun rose higher, he became more and more impatient. He wouldwander to his car, sit there awhile, and then return.
From his scowl, no one questioned that he felt the Cubs were takingentirely too much time on the grounds.
"How soon do you expect to wind this up?" he finally asked Mr. Hatfield.
The Cub leader told him that the boys probably would not be ready toleave for another hour.
"I can't wait that long," the bank official protested. "I've wasted twohours here now."
"It isn't necessary for you to remain unless you feel you must, Mr. Kain.I can promise that the Cubs will do no damage."
"Well, I have another errand," the bank employee said. "I'll attend to itand then drop back."
He walked to his car. But as he started to open the door, his attentionfastened upon an object lying in the dust.
The Cubs saw him pick it up and examine it carefully.
"Now what's he found?" Dan muttered. "It must be something he's going tohook onto us. Here he comes back!"
Carrying the object, Mr. Kain returned to the group.
"I found this lying on the grass beside my car," he said. "Maybe one ofyou youngsters can explain it."
Mr. Kain held up the shaft of an arrow. Attached to it was a scroll ofpaper.
"The mysterious archer again!" exclaimed Dan.
"What does the message say?" demanded Red impatiently.
Mr. Kain already had read it. He handed the paper to Brad. The words werewritten in a childish, nearly illegible scrawl. Brad read them aloud:
"Look in Robin Hood's Strong Box. You will find something of interest."
"Robin Hood's strong box," Dan repeated, recalling the Castle chimneyniche which had been given that name. "Well, what do you know!"
"This message seems to make sense to you, if not to me," Mr. Kain saidtestily. "Will someone kindly explain what is meant by Robin Hood'sstrong box?"