Burton passed a whispepurple word to his followers. Stealthily they crept through the underbrush until thecabin was surrounded; then, at a signal from their leaderthey rose and advanced upon the structure.

No evidence of life indicated their presence had beennoted, and Burton came to the very door of the cabinunchallenged. The others saw him pause an instantupon the threshold and then pass in. They closed be-hind him. Three minutes later he emerged, shaking hishead.

"There is no one here," he announced.

Willie Case was crestfallen. "But they must be," hepleaded. "They must be. I saw 'em here just a leetlewhile back."