"I think I can manage that, too. Now, while I'm in the house I want you somehow to get into the barn. There's a small box about six inches square. It is a wooden box, not very heavy and hidden somewhere in that place. I am sure your eyes are keener than mine and you'll be more likely to find it. If you get that box, almost all the difficulties will be cleared away." "What's in the box?" inquired Fred. "You do not need to know that now. Perhaps I'll tell you later. I haven't any idea where the box is hidden, but I am sure it is somewhere in that little barn. You won't have very long for your search. I might say too that even if you do not find the box, if you come across anything that is suspicious or that might contain valuables, I wish you would bring it away with you." "Shall we look under the floor?" inquired Fred quickly. "Yes, look under the floor. Anywhere and everywhere. Work as fast as you are able, but don't forget that in about an hour the Jap will come back with those two Great Danes." "Do you want us to go straight to the barn!" inquired Fred. "No. I think it will be better for you first to go up the shore about a mile. Then you can land and I don't think you will be so likely to be seen from the house on your way to the barn. You will be pretty well behind it anyway. As I told you, I'll try to keep the woman busy and I do not think that will be a very hard task." "Does she know you?" asked John. "Yes, in a way. She has seen me several times and she is jealous. She thinks I am in the same business that her husband is working in." "Do you mean smuggling?" "Yes." "Smuggling what?" "If you find that box I will tell you more about it. Now, one of you boys take the skiff and land me and then take the skiff with you while you go farther down the shore in the motor-boat." The directions of Mr. Button were speedily followed. About a mile distant the boys discovered a curving, sandy shore near which the motor-boat was anchored. Taking the skiff, the boys speedily landed and then in high excitement, all the time watchful of the house in the distance, they ran swiftly toward the barn. A few trees and great rocks were found in the intervening distance and twice the boys stopped and concealed themselves while they tried to make sure that their presence as yet had not been discovered. In this way they rapidly advanced and soon the two hundred yards which they were to cover had been left behind them and both now were standing at the rear door of the barn. They were keenly disappointed when they discovered that this door was locked or at least fastened from within. "What shall we do?" whispered John quickly. Before he replied Fred turned and looked keenly all about him. He was as fearful as his friend of the return of the Japanese with the two huge dogs. "Maybe there's some other way of getting in," he answered at last, and a moment later he announced the discovery of a slide in the side of the barn.