"Right now, how about some ice cream?" Burt suggested.

The group went into the Stratford's soda shop. They selected a table in a far corner and Niko kept his back to other guests, hoping he would not be recognized.

"I'm sorry we've had such a hectic evening," he apologized.

Nancy chuckled. "I'm to blame too, Niko. So don't worry. We loved your show, anyway."

A short while later the young singer asked to be excused. "I admit I'm absolutely beat," he said.

The other boys insisted upon driving Niko to his hotel to be sure there were no more incidents. The girls waited in the lobby until Ned, Burt, and Dave returned.

Nancy and the cousins were delighted when the boys decided to accompany them to Misty Lake.

"We'll get a room at that Mrs. Hosking's place." Ned grinned. "Nancy, you know we couldn't leave you with such a complicated and dangerous mystery to solve."

Soon afterward, the girls bade their friends good night. "See you in the morning," said Bess.

Nancy urged that they get an early start for the lake. "It's Sunday morning and there won't be too many cars on the road, so we can make good time. On the way, we can stop and go to church."

The others agreed, and after breakfast the boys and girls set off in the two cars. After attending church services, they stopped at a roadside restaurant for noontime dinner.

During the meal, the mystery and its various aspects became the sole subject of conversation. Ned chuckled. "Nancy, you certainly can get yourself involved in the most baffling cases. I'd like to bet that police chief at Misty Lake hasn't found out as much as you have!"

Nancy laughed. "What have I found out? Not much. I have only suspicions, I'm afraid!"

Nevertheless, when they reached Misty Lake village, Nancy discovered that Ned was right. Chief Stovall, who happened to be on duty at headquarters, admitted that he had learned nothing about the lake mysteries.

"I think I know who may have been bothering you at the cottage, though," he said. "A report reached my desk that a man had escaped from a mental institution and was hiding out in this area. But he's been recaptured."

Chief Stovall went on to say that he and his men had searched around the entire lake for clues to the phantom ship but had found nothing that warranted further investigation. "Are you positive, Miss Drew, that you really saw this-thing?"

For answer, Nancy said, "Mr. Henry Winch and some summer residents saw it before we did. I'm sure you have found him a very truthful citizen."

The police chief scratched his head. "Yes, we have."

Nancy smiled and changed the subject. "Do you know where Mr. Neal Raskin lives?"

"Yes. But if you're planning on seeing him, you can't do it before tomorrow. I happen to know he's out of town until then."

Nancy left headquarters and reported the chief's conversation to her companions. Ned said, "Well, Nancy, it looks as if you'll have to solve this mystery without the chief's help."

They stopped at Mrs. Hosking's to pick up Satin, the cat, and reserve a room for the boys. Then they all went down to the cottage. They ate supper in front of a roaring fire, and soon afterward the boys said good night.

"We'll meet you in the village tomorrow morning," Nancy told them. "I'll need your help in a sleuthing project."

Ned saluted. "We'll be ready and waiting."

When the young people met the following day, Nancy explained what she had in mind. She suggested that Ned call on the jobber.

"You might pretend you're interested in doing outside saleswork next summer, and get him talking about records in general and then Niko's latest one in particular."

Ned said he would be glad to do this and drove out to Raskin's office on the highway. When Ned returned somewhat later, he was flushed with excitement. "I picked up a great clue!" he said. "I'm sure I'm not mistaken. Raskin was the driver of the car that went off with Nancy and Niko!"

"What!" the others cried in unison.

Ned went on, "That's not all. He got a phone call while I was there. The person on the other end of the line talked so loud I could hear him. He said he was Webby. Isn't that the name of one of the men who was on the dock, Nancy, when you were hiding under it?"

"It certainly is," she replied. "Oh, Ned, your sleuthing has been marvelous. Do you know what this means? Raskin, Webby, and the Driscolls are partners in some scheme and I am sure it's pirating records!"

"Are you going to tell the police?" Bess asked.

"Not right now. I want more evidence before I talk to Chief Stovall or Detective Morton again," she said. "I think we should all go and make a thorough search of the Pudding Stone Lodge grounds for clues. But let's try to do it without being seen."

"That's going to be pretty hard," said George, "if they have spies around."

Nevertheless, everyone agreed to the idea and they went back to Misty Lake. The boysand.girls watched intently as they walked through the woods to the cottage, but saw nobody.

The girls put on hiking shoes and the group set off. The plan was to circle the estate. The boys were to stay among the trees near the lane which led from the road to the lodge, go around the house, and make their way to the beach. Meanwhile, the girls would take the woods trail that led to the foot of the bluff below the stone house.

They separated. When the girls reached the area where they had heard the humming noise, they began an intensive search along the base of the incline for a hidden door that might lead underground to the lodge. The place was tangled with weeds and at this point sharply rocky.

"We'll have to tear these vines apart," George declared.

Suddenly the group was startled by children's shrieks from above. At once the girls raced up the path to the bluff. As they paused behind some bushes in an overgrown garden near the house, they saw Vince Driscoll and the twins. He was tossing each youngster in turn high into the air and pretending that he wasn't going to catch them. The little boy and girl looked terrified.

"We must do something!" said Bess.

Just then the agonized scream of a woman came from the house!

CHAPTER XVI.

Directions to a Treasure

As the woman's scream died away, Vince Driscoll set the twins on the ground and looked upward at the house. The four girls followed his gaze but could see no one at the windows. Who had screamed? Mrs. Driscoll? Or someone else?

Instinctively Nancy's eyes turned to the bull's-eye window. Was someone imprisoned in that room?

Vince now grabbed the children and rushed them into the house. Bess was so indignant she forgot to be fearful. "That's downright cruelty to children!" she said. "I think we should stop it!"

Nancy, George, and Cecily agreed, but George cautioned, "If we antagonize the Driscolls now, they'll never let us come back here."

The girls continued to speculate on the woman who had screamed. "It might even be that red-haired girl!" said Nancy.

"Then she certainly can't be in league with the Driscolls," said Cecily. "Oh, dear! I wish we could help her, and also find out if she is Susan Wayne."

Nancy was thinking the same thing. She put in words an idea which had been in her mind for some time. "I believe the twins are a key to some mystery involving the Driscolls. The red-haired girl knows it and they don't dare let her get away to tell it."