“She robbed them,” and then, to the satisfaction and delight of Marcus and Dean, the boy volubly detailed the episode of the cabin as far as he understood it, and even went on to relate how Tim Downey had sent for two friends to help him find Crazy Meg. Marcus Ellison acted all through the interview as if he was only casually interested in the boy’s story. “I reckon they won’t find Crazy Meg, if a sharp boy like you couldn’t do it.” “They’re going to try, anyway,” replied the boy. “Indeed!” “Yes.” “When?” “To-night. The two men with the boys think they know all about the country,” and then the boy walked on. “What luck!” cried Dan delightedly, the moment they were alone. “Yes, Dean, we know all about the case now.” “The money and papers are in possession of Crazy Meg?” “It looks so.” “And whoever finds her first----” “Probably gets them.” “We must!” “We’ll try,” responded the indomitable Marcus grimly. An hour later four persons, somewhat exhilarated from too many potations of wine, came from the tavern and proceeded in the direction of the forest and hills. In their wake, at a safe distance, followed Marcus and Dean. “We must keep them in sight,” remarked the former. “They are going, the boy said, first to the cabin of the hunter who may know where Crazy Meg is, and we must learn what he says.” CHAPTER XXXII. IN THE VALLEY. “This is the way. Come on, Spofford. You boys want to hustle if we expect to do any work to-night.” Daley spoke, and his auditors were not alone his three companions. They were pursuing a tortuous path along a dry river course in a valley, and it was not difficult to keep them in view and be near to them at the same time, and Marcus and Dean plodded on directly on the trail of their enemies. “The hunter said that we had better go to what he calls the bowl. He says that Crazy Meg has a regular haunt near there.” “Well, we’re near it now; only a little further, I reckon,” responded Daley to Spofford’s remark. It was less than an hour later when the quartette of plotters found themselves in a spot that was strange and weird in the extreme. The valley narrowed, then widened, circling out and forming a place that bore a resemblance to a sugar bowl. Stunted trees and underbrush covered the rocks, and there was only one path leading to the cliffs above, a narrow ledge of stone that seemed too frail and irregular for travel. “The hunter said that Meg comes here every night to talk in her insane way to the witches. We must hide ourselves and keep perfectly quiet,” said Daley. Daley and his companions bestowed themselves among the shrubbery, and Dean and Marcus just where the outlet to the indentation was located crouched down among some vines, their proximity all unsuspected by the plotters. Then there was entire silence for over an hour, during which Dean and Marcus awaited developments anxiously. They came at last.