Diamond's anger caused him to lose his head so that he threatened the old man with his fist. He quickly realized what he was doing, however, and, with an air of apology, he cried: "If you keep it up, you will lead me to do something of which I shall be ashamed. You can't fool us, old man. We have you foul, and we'll never let up on you till you lead us to Frank Merriwell. We are young, but you will find we can keep a pledge like men." In truth, Cooler seemed in earnest as he said: "Young gentleman, you wrong me very much. I am ready to go with you and do what I can to help find Mr. Merriwell, but that is all I can do. It will be better if you will let me go alone. I shall be able to work alone far better." "Oh, yes," sneered Hodge. "You think we are fools! No, we go with you." "All right. I am ready." It did not seem that anything further could be forced from his lips. They warned him that they would not hesitate to shoot if he tried to run away, and then they climbed the bank. "If you want me to lead you," said Mr. Cooler, "come on." He did not take the path, but plunged into the woods. They kept close to him, watching him. "If you try to lead us into a trap," said Hodge, "you will be sorry. If we are ambushed here in these woods, my first shot will be at you. I'll fix you, if I never do another thing." There was nothing like bluster in the words, and Mr. Caleb Cooler knew Bart meant exactly what he said. "That is all right," nodded the little man. "Shoot away." He led them toward the glade in which was the mysterious grave. At last they stood around the grave, and he said: "Here is something I discovered since coming to the island. That name was on the stone before I joined you at the clambake. I forgot to tell you about it." "Yesterday there was another name on that stone," said Browning. "The new name must have been cut there after we left the island yesterday afternoon." "I do not know when it was cut there," declared Cooler; "but everything shows it must have been very recently. I do know it was there when I landed on this island to-day." "And you know who cut it there!" accused Diamond. "If you think so, it is useless to deny it." "Now take us to Frank Merriwell!" "All I can do is aid you in the search. I am willing to go anywhere with you." They passed on from the dark glade, leaving the mysterious grave behind them. Cooler seemed inclined to keep to the left, although the woods were thicker there. They pushed forward, as if passing through a jungle. Branches whipped them in the face, and beneath their feet the underbrush crackled. All at once Diamond shouted: "Stop! stop! Where is Cooler?" "Why," grunted Browning, "he's right here. Thunder! He was at my elbow a moment ago. I scarcely took my eyes off him." "He isn't here now!" rang out Jack's voice. "He has disappeared! He is trying to hide in these thick bushes. Scatter and search for him! If you see him running, shoot at his legs! Stop him somehow!"