“Geewhilikens!” exclaimed Crane, astonished. “What’s happened to yeou naow? Yeou’ve alwus been red-hot to play the detective, and some folks have begun to say that yeou’re purty clever at it.” “I haven’t time to explain my reasons for cutting that tommyrot out,” retorted Piper. “Let’s get a move on.” There were eight boys in the party that set out for Silver Brook Swamp, led by Piper. Striking across the fields, they passed to the south of Turkey Hill and reached the Barville road. The clouds were dispersing and the moon was shining clear and bright when they drew near Silver Brook and came to the old path that led into the swamp. Phil Springer and Chipper Cooper were disposed to lag behind somewhat, although something seemed to draw them on after the others. “I’ve been expecting Piper to blow the whole thing any minute,” said Cooper, speaking to Phil in a low tone. “Wonder why he hasn’t?” speculated Springer. “He sus-swore to us that he would if Shultz or Osgood didn’t own up pup-pretty quick.” “Guess he’s waiting for what he’d call the psychological moment. You know Pipe’s always great for dramatic effects.” “There can be only one outcome to this thing now. We’re all in the sus-sus-soup.” “Billy says it’s our duty to think of Roy, not ourselves.” “I’ve been th-thinking of him too much. It’s made me sick. I’m thinking of him now, and what we’re liable to fuf-find in this old swamp if Pipe’s guess is right about the way he went. Being crazy enough to jump out of bub-bed and run off half-dressed, anything may huh-happen to him.” “That’s right,” agreed Chipper dolefully. “I wonder where Charley Shultz is? Didn’t see anything of him with the crowd.” “Yah!” growled Springer. “He hasn’t got any fuf-feelings. I’ll bet he’s in bed, sleeping like a log, this very minute. Probably not even the ringing of the bells woke him up.” “He must have a heart of stone,” said Cooper. Had they known all that had happened to Shultz in the last two hours, could they have seen him in his present painful and wretched condition, their judgment of him might not have been so harsh. CHAPTER XXI THE CAMP ON THE ISLAND. Under the western shoulder of Turkey Hill the shadows were deep and heavy, and, the path being dim and faint from rare use, it was necessary for the party to proceed slowly. They did not talk much, and when they did speak their words were uttered in low and guarded tones. Several times, Piper, in the lead, paused to make sure they had not wandered from the right course. The others seemed to rely almost wholly upon Billy, and no one thought of superseding him in the leadership. During one of these pauses, Cooper, who had halted with Springer a short distance behind the others, pulled at Phil’s sleeve and whispered in his ear: “Say, old man, don’t you think it’s about time we told all we know about this business?” Springer gave his body a queer sort of a shake.