"I wonder if Budge and Long Gun will worry about our not coming back?" asked Sam.
"No," replied Jack, "for I told Budge I didn't see how we could return, in case we were successful in getting to the mysterious camp."
"Well, we got here all right," remarked Nat, with an uneasy laugh. "The question is, how to get away."
"Yes," continued Jack, "I don't like the way he acted. I'm afraid his brain was affected by the blow on the head, following the fright at coming down on the sled. He isn't very strong, and it wouldn't take much to upset him. Besides, he's been worrying about finding his uncle, and about the mean way his guardian has treated him. I certainly hope nothing has happened to him in that shed, but I can't understand why that man Andy should keep him there."
The boys passed rather an uneasy night, not only because of their strange surroundings, but on account of worrying over the fate of Will. Nor were they altogether easy regarding themselves.
"Well, we're still alive, at any rate," observed Jack, as he arose the next morning, and helped to get a simple breakfast. "Did any of you fellows hear anything in the night?"
"It seems to me that I heard people sneaking around the cabin," said Bony.
"Guess they didn't altogether trust us," came from Nat. "They looked in on us every once in a while. I wonder how Will slept?"
"Guess we'll have to wait to have that answered," remarked Jack. "If I see Sandy I'll ask him----"
He stopped suddenly, and looked from a window.
"And that man Andy is with him!" exclaimed Sam. "Maybe now we'll solve the mystery."
Jack opened the cabin door, and stood in it, prepared to greet Will. The other captives gathered back of their chum.
"How are you, Will?" asked Jack, as soon as his friend came within speaking distance. "We were quite worried about you."
"I'm all right," answered the strange lad.
"Why did you run away?" inquired Sam, while Nat looked closely at Andy. The man had a good-natured, smiling face, and Nat's spirits began to rise. He did not think they had much to fear from such a man.
"It's a strange story," said Will, as he entered the cabin, followed by the man.
The boys crowded around the two, and waited anxiously for Will's next words.
"First," began the lad, who had acted so strangely, "let me introduce to you my uncle, Mr. Andrew Swaim."