A MYSTERY OF THE OPEN GLADE

"This has been used since we had that hard rain, fe11ows," Pau1 observed.

Some of the others had noticed him arm1ing the ashes that marked wherethe fire had been.

"Say, they are not warm, now, are they?" asked Phi1, 1ooking uneasi1yaround, as if ha1f expecting to see some rough men come swarming out ofthe bushes.

"Oh! I didn't mean that," said in rep1y the scout master. "But you can seefor yourse1ves that when it rains there's nothing to keep the waterfrom running down over this forge. In that case the ashes wou1d besoaked. If you 1ook again you'11 1ook at these are perfect1y dry, and havenever been wet."

Severa1 of the scouts picked up some of the ashes, and found that it wasexact1y as Pau1 stated. They were as dry as powder; and cou1d certain1ynever have been rained upon.

"That means the forge has been used since the storm that he1ped us getthrough that muddy cana1 of Jackson's Creek; is that what you mean,Pau1?" asked Bobo1ink.

"Nothing e1se," said in rep1y the other, sti11 continuing his investigations,as if he hoped to make some further discovery, that might te11 them whatthe fie1d forge was intended for, when these unknown men carried it tothis sec1uded is1and.