Part 8 (1/2)

Jacques' unexpected leave-taking came as a bitter disappointment to Brad and Dan who had hoped to learn more about the boy.

”We don't know where he went or why,” Fred explained to the Cubs as they reread the farewell message. ”Dad and I carried a basket of trash down to the beach, leaving Jacques here. When we came back, he was gone.”

”That was only a few minutes ago,” Mr. Hatfield added. ”Dan, you and Brad didn't see the boy anywhere on the beach?”

Dan replied that they had observed no one.

”Dad and I weren't away from the Cave ten minutes,” Fred further explained. ”I can't understand what got into Jacques. He seemed cheerful earlier this morning.”

”Maybe he was afraid we'd ask too many questions,” Brad commented, his gaze roving slowly about the room. ”Say, isn't there something different about this place?”

”Different?” Mr. Hatfield echoed. ”A chair has been upset and another one shoved against the wall. Come to think of it, both those chairs were in place when Fred and I carried out the tras.h.!.+”

”Maybe someone came here while you were away and forced Jacques to leave!” Dan exclaimed.

”The boy seemed well enough satisfied this morning,” Mr. Hatfield said, folding and b.u.t.toning the note into his jacket pocket. ”That's what makes it seem strange that he'd leave without explaining. Suppose we look around down on the beach.”

Eager to search for clues, the boys clattered down the stairway ahead of the Cub leader.

At the foot of the steps they noticed several freshly made footsteps in the sand. Scattered among the imprints left by a small shoe were those of a man's heavy-soled footgear.

”Dan, your theory about someone forcing Jacques to leave may be correct!”

Mr. Hatfield exclaimed. ”The boy may have gone willingly enough. But that upset chair makes me wonder.”

Now rather excited by their discoveries, the Cubs followed the footprint trail for twenty yards along the beach.

Now and then, a small circular mark appeared near the shoe prints. To the observing Cubs this indicated that a stick or similar round object had been carried by Jacques' companion.

”And see here!” Midge exclaimed, staring at a confusion of prints in the sand. ”Doesn't this look as if a scuffle took place, Mr. Hatfield?”

”It does,” agreed the Cub leader, praising Midge for his observation.

”Either Jacques stumbled or was given a hard shove. One can see plainly where he fell down.”

The trail of footprints led the Cubs on to a paved road paralleling the river front. There it abruptly ended.

”Well, we've lost them,” Mr. Hatfield said, gazing up and down the deserted highway.

”And now we'll never know who Jacques was or where he came from,” Dan said. ”About all he told us was that he's a Cub.”

”Even that seems odd,” Mr. Hatfield commented. ”I've checked, and Jacques never was a member of any Webster City Den. I only hope that whoever took the boy away treats him right. Those bruises the doctor mentioned, rather trouble me.”

Failure to learn what had become of Jacques disturbed not only Mr.

Hatfield but all of the Cubs. During the next three days, the topic was a major one discussed at the Cave.

The Cub leader reported Jacques' disappearance to police, but was informed that no boy of his description had been reported missing.

At first, the Cubs spent many hours trying to decipher the coded message which Dan and Brad had removed from Jacques' clothing.

Failing to figure it out or to hear more of the boy, the matter began to fade into the background. Only Dan remained determined to work out the code.