"Only to be on your guard. Don't trust Peter as you trust me." "I never have. And now have you any suggestions to make?" "You might visit this farmer who helped the Quaker arrest your brother." "It may be a good plan. Who is the farmer?" "His name is Ezekiel Mason." "I know where he lives. He is the last man I should suppose would be capable of such mischief." "He could have done nothing without the Quaker's help." "Very well, we will take the farm on the way. Still I don't know that we shall learn anything beyond what we already know." Before leaving the cave they disguised themselves as farm workmen. In this dress they approached the farmhouse, but there was something that diverted them from their original purpose and led them to keep their distance. Sitting on the portico was a tall man dressed as a Quaker. "That's the man!" said Hugh quickly. "That's the man who drove up to the jail last evening with your brother." James Fox looked at him closely. "It is best to let sleeping dogs lie," he said. "We will push on to the jail." CHAPTER XIX LIVING WITH THIEVES Meanwhile Ernest was left in the cave with Frank. He had been brought in blindfolded and was therefore ignorant as to the entrance or exit. He thought he might, without arousing the boy's suspicion, seek information from him on these points. "Are there many rooms here, Frank?" he asked. "Oh, a good many," answered the boy. "Have you been in many?" "I have been around with papa." "I should like to go around," said Ernest. "Suppose we take a little walk." The boy was quite ready to accept any suggestion from Ernest. So he took his hand and they went from the main room farther into the cavern. Ernest found that only the portion near the entrance had been furnished. Beyond there was a large amount of empty space. Here and there a small light revealed trunks and boxes arranged without regard to regularity. These, Ernest conjectured, contained stolen articles which had accumulated during the years in which the dreaded outlaws had been a power and a menace in the neighborhood. It occurred to him that he would like to open some of these boxes, but the companionship of the boy prevented. He ventured to ask, however: "What is in those boxes, Frank?" "I don't know. Something of papa's and Uncle John's." As they kept on they reached parts of the cavern which were quite empty. The Fox brothers were in the position of householders who occupied a house too large for their needs. By and by the lamps ceased and the portion farther on looked dark and gloomy. "I am afraid to go any farther, Ernest." "Why, Frank? What are you afraid of?" "There may be wild animals there." "But how could they live there?" "I don't know, but papa told me there were some." Ernest understood why the boy had been told this. It was to prevent his going too far. But it made Ernest all the more eager to continue his explorations.