“Funny that they would rent a boat to go fishing,” Teena said, “and then come in here to the cove first. There aren’t any sand crabs to dig for bait.” Eddie was thinking the same thing. Then he saw footprints which led from the place where the boat had been beached to the base of the bluff rising above the cove. “Now why would they go to the foot of the bluff?” Eddie said, puzzled. “There’s nothing to see over there.” Curiosity gripped him. He started following the twin sets of footprints. “Eddie,” Teena said, “we’d better go on if we’re going to visit Captain Daniels.” “This won’t take long,” Eddie called back over his shoulder. Teena followed as he went on toward the foot of the bluff. “Hey, look,” Eddie said. “There’s a kind of path that zigzags up the bluff. I’ve never noticed that before.” “It’s not much of a path,” Teena said, looking up the steeply winding trail. “And I don’t know why anyone would want to use it to get to this cove. It’s much easier coming up the beach.” “But someone’s been using it,” Eddie said. “See how the ground’s stirred up. I can’t figure why anyone would want to land a boat in this cove, then climb up and down that bluff before going fishing. Can you?” “Guess not,” Teena admitted. “Might be worth finding out,” Eddie said. “Come on.” “Where?” “Up the path. I’ve never been up top. Might be something really worth seeing.” “I doubt it,” Teena said. “There used to be some fishermen’s shacks up top. But I don’t think anyone lives there any more.” “Just for kicks, let’s see,” Eddie insisted, starting up the winding path. The dirt of the bluff was sandy and soft, making hard climbing as it shifted and slid underfoot. It took them several minutes to climb the slanting palisade which was only some seventy feet high. “Phew,” Teena said, after they had scrambled up the last few feet. “You sure get some wild ideas, Eddie.” Eddie didn’t answer. He stood looking around. It was easy to see why so few people were acquainted with that part of the coastline. Although there were no trees of any size, the rolling land which extended back from the bluff’s edge was covered with a dense tangle of brush. Only a foolish person would try clawing his way through it to get to the cove. The beach route was the easy way, as Teena had said. Yet there was a faint path winding inland from the top of the bluff. It disappeared quickly into the brush. Fresh footprints indicated that it had been used recently. “Now, why do you suppose anyone would go that way?” Eddie wondered aloud. “I wouldn’t want to try it,” Teena said. “That brush would scratch my arms and legs.” “Maybe it leads to that shack over there,” Eddie said, pointing.