There were several rooms they had not yet explored, and they now proceeded to visit them. They had evidently been the living apartments of the former miller, but now they were pretty much in ruins. “No signs of a course dinner having been prepared here,” commented Tom. “It smells as musty as time. He must hang out somewhere else.” “Upstairs, I’ll wager,” said Dick. “But how does he get up?” asked Jack. “Oh, he has some secret way,” declared Tom. “We’ll have to get a rope and explore that third story all right.” “Say, maybe we’re staying too long now,” suggested Bert. “Old Wallace may come along and nab us. We’ve seen all there is to, I guess, except upstairs.” “But we haven’t seen any gold,” said Jack. “I want to find some before I go back.” “Get out!” laughed Tom. “All the gold there is in this mill you can put in your eye. But I think it might be a good idea to look outside a bit. Maybe there’s some outbuilding, or some secret cache where the pirates or settlers hid their stuff. We’ll take a look.” “And then we’ll have some eats!” suggested Jack. “I’m as hungry as the proverbial bear.” They strolled about the old mill, and saw more signs of where a search had been made for the reputed treasure. Holes innumerable were on every side, but the attempts to locate the hidden gold had soon been given over, for the excavations were shallow. “Now for the eats!” exclaimed Jack, as they started for the dock where their boat was tied. “Lands! but I’m stiff!” He really was limping painfully, and his chums had to help him down the hill to the river. As they approached their boat Tom, who was slightly in advance, uttered an exclamation of surprise as he peered along a path that led up the river. “What is it?” asked Dick. “Look,” was the answer. “Old Wallace! We got away just in time.” “And see who’s with him!” exclaimed Jack, in a hoarse whisper. “Professor Skeel!” “By Jove! So it is!” gasped Tom. “Wonders will never cease. Have they seen us?” It was evident they had not, but to make sure of it the boys hurried behind a screen of bushes, where they could see but not be observed. “Look!” exclaimed Tom again. “They’re going to have a conference.” As he spoke the others could see that the former professor and the old hermit had come to a halt in a place where the path widened. It was in a little glade, and, sitting down beneath the trees, the two men, one of whom had played such a strange part in Tom’s life, and the other, who was destined to, proceeded to talk earnestly. What they said could not be heard, but it was evident that it was some subject that interested them both, for they held their heads close together as if afraid of being overheard. They little realized that they were being watched. “What are they doing now?” asked Dick. “The old hermit has some sort of a paper,” said Tom. “And he’s showing it to Mr. Skeel,” added Bert. “Maybe it’s some sort of map to tell where the treasure is,” suggested Dick.