That night, after Uncle had left the , Alvin Landon, Chester Haynes and Mike Murphy held what Alvin called a council of war.  
Sauntering a little way from the building, they sat down in the silent depths of the woods where no one could overhear what was said by them. Not that a Boy would be guilty of , but it was best that no inkling of what was in the air should become accidentally known to others.
 
Without quoting all the conversation, let me make clear its substance. The three were so mystified by the incidents already told that they not to cease their efforts until the puzzle was solved. They were the only Boy who knew the particulars, and it was natural that their friends should give their chief interest to fishing, in the forest, studying trees, picking up what they could of natural history, and laying in unnecessary stores of health and strength.
 
One thing was certain: Uncle Elk knew the secret and he wouldn’t tell. More than that, Chester Haynes startled his chums by the declaration:
 
“So does Mr. Hall,—at least I am pretty sure he does.”
 
“What reason have you for thinking that?” asked the astonished Alvin.
 
“I have seen them more than once whispering in a way that showed they were keenly interested.”
 
“Did you hear anything that either said?”
 
“Not a word.”
 
“How do you know then to what they were referring?”
 
“I don’t; I’m only guessing.”
 
“I belave ye’re right,” added Mike; “I obsarved the same thing and had the same ’spicion, and would have of it if Chest hadn’t got ahead of me. But I’m thinking that if Mr. Hall knows it all, why the doesn’t he tell us afore we ?”
 
“For the simple reason that Uncle Elk has bound him to . No; what we find out must be done without the help of either.”
 
“And we’ll doot!” exclaimed Mike, “or we’ll break a trace trying.”
 
“How shall we go about it?” asked Alvin. “Whatever we do must be done without either of them, especially Uncle Elk, knowing it.”
 
“And there’s the rub.”
 
Bring three bright-witted boys together and let them concentrate their mental energies upon the solution of a problem, and even if they don’t succeed, they are sure to evolve something worth while.
 
“It is useless to apply to Mr. Hall,” said Alvin, “for nothing could induce him to violate the confidence of another. But Uncle Elk holds the master key and can speak when he chooses.”
 
“Which the same is the rule with most folks,” commented Mike.
 
“Now, see here,” put in Chester; “he has shown a fondness for you——”
 
“Can ye name any one of me acquaintances that hasn’t?” interrupted the wag.104
 
“Why can’t you set to work and it out of him?”
 
“Begorra! haven’t I tried more than once. I’ve hinted and asked him straight out until I’m in the fix of Phil Rafferty.”
 
“What was that?”
 
“Phil took a notion that he could ivery other admirer of Bridget Mulrooney off the track. He kipt at it till one day he towld me he had a dim ’spicion that Bridget and her big brother and her dad of the same name, not forgitting Bridget her-silf, weren’t as fond of him as they oughter be. They had dropped purty plain hints and the last time Phil called, Bridget remarked sorter off-hand like, that she niver wanted to see his ugly mug agin. Her brother kicked him off the porch and flung him over the fence and the owld gintleman set their dog on him, which the same nearly choked in trying to swaller the seat of his pants. Phil said he was beginnin’ to ’spicion that the family took as a whole, didn’t love him as they oughter. It’s the same wid Uncle Elk and me. He’s riddy to talk on anything excipt the raison them two tramps was scared into taking a bath, 105and he won’t throw any light on that p’int.”
 
“Then there is no use of either of us trying.”
 
“I could hev towld ye that long ago.”
 
Once more it was Chester who showed the most .
 
“Uncle Elk knows that Mike is doing all he can to solve the puzzle; he knows he’ll not stop trying till he learns the truth; if Alvin and I keep him company, he will understand that we have joined forces. It will be as easy for him to baffle us three when we are together as to defeat any one of us. Therefore we ought to separate and each push the hunt for himself.”
 
“Ye’ve hit it!” exclaimed Mike, “and to encourage ye in good works and to show ye the honor ye oughter hev, I offers ye me hand.”
 
He gravely extended his palm in the gloom and it was warmly shaken.
 
Let a party of boys engage in some plot—and the same is true of adults—and ............