“If we had a rope we could make it,” said Tom. “We’ll bring one next time.” “Huh! How you going to get up there to fasten it?” asked Bert. “Tie a stick on the end, throw the stick up, and when it catches, crossways, in one of the chute-holes we can go up easily enough.” “Good boy! Bright idea!” complimented Jack. “Well, let’s see if we can find where old Wallace hangs out. We haven’t come across his living quarters yet.” [81] [81] 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[82] 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. [82] “Now for the eats!” exclaimed Jack, as they started for the dock where their boat was tied. “Lands!
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