"Dear me, these steps seem steeper every time I climb them," she laughed, pausing on the platform to recapture her breath.

Observing through the open doorway of the Cave that all the Cubs had gathered there, Mrs. Holloway expressed surprise that the treasure hunt had ended so early.

"Why, I'm late bringing the food!" she exclaimed. "I expected the beach outing to last at least another half hour."

Mr. Hatfield told her what had occurred, adding: "Perhaps you can do something for the boy. He's inside."

"You've sent for a doctor?" Mrs. Holloway inquired.

"Yes, Mr. Suell went after Dr. Redfield a few minutes ago. The lad seems to be coming around all right. He's a strange sort of boy-so far, he won't tell us his name or anything about himself."

"I'll find out," Mrs. Holloway said confidently.

Inside the Cave, nearly all of the Cubs had gathered about the couch where the strange boy lay. His dark brown eyes now appeared alert, and roved systematically over the room, taking in every detail.

He noted an animal skin which hung on the wall above the couch, a shelf of Indian handicraft articles, and raffia baskets made by the Cubs. His gaze dwelt longest upon a silver trophy engraved with the Den 2 name.

"We won that cup in the Pack handicraft show," Chips volunteered, observing the boy's interest. "Red and I made an Indian headdress which took top honors."

"Aw, cut out the boasting," Red interposed with a laugh. "Remember, if it hadn't been for Brad and Dan recovering that feather war bonnet after it was carried down river with the flood, the Den wouldn't have won a thing."

"That's right," Chips admitted readily. "We all worked together to earn the trophy. And to clear the Den name too."

As all the Cubs knew, the feathers which had been so skillfully woven into the headdress had been obtained from the Silverton Pheasant Farm not many miles distant.

Due to a misunderstanding, all the Cubs had been accused of trespa.s.sing, and Chips and Red of stealing. Only by diligent work had Dan and Brad cleared the two boys of the charge.

The story of how a group of daring pheasant thieves was brought to justice, has been told in the first volume of a series, ent.i.tled: "Dan Carter, Cub Scout."

Quietly taking charge, Mrs. Holloway cleared the bedside by a.s.signing the Cubs to small tasks about the Cave. From a thermos bottle she poured a steaming cup of hot chocolate which she pressed to the boy's lips.

He drank slowly and then with a grateful smile expressed his thanks.

"You're feeling better now, aren't you?" the Den Mother said, straightening the blankets on the couch.

The boy nodded.

"Not very talkative, are you?" Mrs. Holloway asked with a warm smile.

"But then, you've had a most harrowing experience. How in the world did you get in the river so late at night?"

The strange lad did not rise to this bait, but allowed the question to remain unanswered.

"You haven't told us your name yet," Mrs. Holloway reminded him.

"Jacques," he answered after a long hesitation.

"Why, that's a French name, isn't it? Jacques-what?"

Again the boy did not answer, merely staring at her with eyes which held a troubled expression.

"Never mind," said Mrs. Holloway. "If you don't feel like answering questions, I won't press you. Later on perhaps you'll tell us about yourself."

She sat by the couch for a few minutes and then as Mr. Suell came in with Dr. Redfield, retired to talk to the Cub leader again.

"It's no use-I couldn't get a word out of him," she confessed. "My guess is that he is foreign-born. And his first name, Jacques, would indicate it."

"None of the Cubs ever have seen him before," Mr. Hatfield remarked. "A slip of paper was found in his pocket bearing the name Skeleton Island."

"Then he may live there."

"Possibly," Mr. Hatfield conceded. "However, the island belongs to Jonathan Manheim. I've never heard of anyone staying there except a caretaker who looks after the property."

"What's to be done with the boy?"

"We'll have to try to find his people. Possibly he's a runaway. In that case, he may refuse to tell us the name of his parents or where he came from. It may take a day or two to get his background."

"I'll be glad to have him stay at my home tonight."

"I'd figured on taking him with me," Mr. Hatfield replied. "That is, if the doctor approves. Let's see what he has to say."

Dr. Redfield had completed his examination of the boy and was preparing to leave the Cave. Not wishing to discuss the patient in his presence, he joined the Cub leader and Mrs. Holloway outside on the platform.

"What's the verdict, doctor?" Mr. Hatfield inquired.

"Oh, he should be all right by tomorrow morning," the doctor answered.

"He's suffering a little from shock, but nothing serious. Mr. Suell told me the boy was found on the beach and apparently had become exhausted from a long swim."

"That's the way we figured it out. He's told us nothing."

"The boy has no serious injuries," Dr. Redfield continued. "In examining him, I did find several bruises on his legs and back."

"What would you say was the cause, doctor?"

"I couldn't be certain, but offhand I would think he had been beaten."

"Then our theory that he's a runaway may be right after all. By the way, doctor, the boy can be moved safely? I thought I'd take him to my home for the night."

"He'll be all right if he doesn't exert himself," the doctor replied.

"Keep him warm and quiet. If you need me in the morning, telephone and I'll make a more complete examination."

After the doctor had gone, Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs prepared to close up the Cave for the night. Deciding to leave the treasure chest buried on the beach, the boys voted to resume the interrupted hunt at their next weekly meeting.

Mrs. Holloway served sandwiches, chocolate and cookies to all the Cubs.

Jacques refused to eat anything but did accept another cup of hot beverage.

"Now let's all sing the Cub pledge before we leave," Mr. Hatfield proposed.

The boys gathered around and to the tune of America, warbled: