This was the case for, as the boys watched, they saw the pig-tailed Celestial grasp his companion by the arm, and, pointing toward the lake, fairly pull him back along the path they had come.

"They must be interested in some boat," suggested Fenn. "Say, fellows,"

he added hastily. "I'll bet I know what it is."

"What?" inquired Bart, as he stooped over to pick a lot of burdock burrs from his trousers.

"These men have something to do with the two who chased us back at the elevator fire. I'll bet they're part of the same gang, and they're trying to work some trick on the _Modoc_! We ought to hurry back and tell Captain Wiggs!"

"Oh, you're 'way off!" declared Frank. "I don't believe these men even know those who chased us."

"Then who are they?" demanded Fenn.

"I don't know," said Frank. "Evidently they are interested in some boat they expect from across the lake. That is very evident from the way they acted; looking through the telescope, and all that. Perhaps they have mistaken our vessel for the one they are looking for."

"No," remarked Bart. "I noticed when the Chinese pointed the gla.s.s he aimed it in a different direction from that in which the _Modoc_ lies."

"Then what boat are they expecting?" asked Ned.

"That's too big a question for me," replied Bart. "It certainly is a queer thing to see a Chinese and a white man in such close company, off here in the woods."

"And then the auto," put in Fenn. "What do you suppose that's for?"

"It's part of the same game," was Frank's opinion.

"Well, I don't know that it's up to us to discover it," went on Fenn.

"It's about time we got back to the ship, anyhow. Come on. We'll keep on this way, and fetch around to the beach in a circle. Then we'll not run across those two queer men."

The boys advanced, laying their course as best they could. Now and then, through the trees, they could get a glimpse of the lake, and they knew they were going in the right direction.

They came to a little gully, in a dense part of the woods, and had to descend into it, to get across, as it extended for quite a distance in either direction. Frank led the way, half slipping, half sliding down the sides. As he reached the bottom he gave a startled cry that alarmed his companions.

"Hurt yourself?" asked Bart.

"No, but look what I've found!"

"A gold mine?" inquired Ned, with a laugh.

"Part of a clothing store," replied Frank. "Look!" and he pointed to where, behind a clump of trees, was a large pile of men's clothing, hats, shoes, coats, vests, trousers and shirts.

"That solves the mystery!" exclaimed Fenn.

"How?" asked Bart.

"Why there's been a big robbery! The men have hidden their booty in the woods, until they have a chance to carry it away. Those two men we just saw are members of the gang. They're keeping a look-out until their boat comes and then they'll take the stuff away. Yes, that's it!"

"I believe Fenn's right," declared Ned.

"Do you?" asked Frank quietly. "Then how do you account for the fact that all the garments are old? There's not a new one among 'em, not even the shoes. You can see for yourself."

The boys looked more closely at the garments, which were arranged in piles, with canvas coverings tossed to one side, as though they had been protected from the weather, and recently opened. They did not touch the things, but it did not need a close inspection to show that Frank was right. The garments were all old ones.

"If there was a robbery it must have been of a second-hand store," went on Frank, "and that's not likely. Besides, see here," and he pointed a little farther off, where a heap of Chinese clothing lay on the ground.

"Well, if this doesn't beat the Dutch!" exclaimed Bart. "What do you make out of that?"

It was a strange find. First to come across a Chinese and an American, in excited conversation in the depths of the woods, and then to discover a pile of clothes, such as are worn by white men, close to a heap, evidently discarded by a band of Celestials, was sufficient, as Bart said, to beat not only the Dutch, but the French, English, German, Spanish and a few other nations.

The boys went closer to the garments of the Celestials. These clothes, as did the others, exhibited unmistakable signs of wear. But they were not piled in orderly heaps; instead, being tossed carelessly together, as if they were no longer of any service.

"Isn't this a regular Chinese puzzle?" remarked Ned.

"I believe they are Chinese smugglers!" chorused Fenn and Bart.

"That's what," said Frank. "Those two men we saw were evidently the look-outs, watching for the boat load to arrive. When the travelers from the Flowery Kingdom land, they are brought here, to this secluded place, and here they take off their blouses and wide pants, and put on old American clothes. Old ones, so they attract no attention. I'll wager that's the solution to this Chinese puzzle."

"But where do the Chinamen come from?" asked Ned. "We're a good ways from China."

"From Canada," answered Frank. "I remember reading lately about a lot of Chinese who were taken into Canada from the Pacific coast. They were brought by rail to a place on Lake Superior about opposite here, and smuggled into this country in boats."

"That's right," agreed Bart. "I read how one boat load, which the smugglers were bringing over, was caught in a storm, and all the Chinese drowned."

"But why do they bring them over?" asked Fenn, who was usually too full of fun, or too interested in some girl, to pay much attention to current events.

"Why, there's a United States law against letting any more Chinese come in," explained Frank. "The only way they can get in is to smuggle here.

It's easy to get them into Canada, and then, if they can make a trip across the lake, and land in some secluded spot, they're all right, if they're not discovered, and that is no easy matter, as the Chinese all look so much alike."

"Then that white man we saw must have been one of the agents engaged in smuggling," said Bart. "I've read they have a regularly organized company, and get good money from the Chinese whom they smuggle over. The pig-tailed chap with him, was evidently a helper or interpreter, who was on hand because the boat was expected."

"That's why they were looking across the lake with a telescope then,"

ventured Fenn. "Say, it's as clear as daylight now. I wonder if we couldn't stay and see 'em land?"

"Not much!" exclaimed Frank. "The chances are the plans are all off, for the time being. That white man will suspect we were spying on him, and when they ran back that time, I guess it was to signal to the boat not to land. We must have given them quite a scare."

"But what was the auto for?" asked Ned, who liked to go into details, and who always wanted to know the why and wherefore of things.

"I guess it was to take the Chinese to some place where they could stay until it was safe to venture out," said Frank. "Sometimes they have to jump around pretty lively, I imagine, especially if the government detectives get after them."

"Perhaps we'd better go and tell Captain Wiggs what we have discovered,"

suggested Fenn. "He may want to notify the authorities."

"Good idea," commented Bart. "Come on."

As the boys started to leave the little gully where the clothing was hidden, they heard a noise behind them. Turning quickly they saw the white man and Chinese, as they broke through the underbrush.

"They're after us!" exclaimed Fenn in a hoa.r.s.e whisper.