Neither Bob nor Frank answered for a moment.
"Well, he's probably going to his cabin, or cave, or whatever he lives in," Bob finally said: "We know about where it is, and I don't see any good in following him. He might get mad at us."
"He probably would," said Sammy. "But getting mad wouldn't hurt us. I'd like to see where he goes."
"Why?" asked Bob.
"I have a certain reason," went on Sammy. "Do you know, fellows, the hermit may be the—counterfeiter!"
"What!" cried Bob.
"Do you mean that?" inquired Frank.
"Well, I'm not sure, of course," went on Sammy. "But he might be, you know."
"Yes, of course," laughed Frank, "and the time we thought we had struck a bear here, it might have been one, only—it wasn't!"
"Oh, well, of course anyone can make a mistake," said Sammy. "And I'm not saying I'm right. Only it's worth trying; isn't it?"
"Well, maybe so," replied Frank, slowly.
"All I want to do," went on Sammy, "is to follow the old hermit, and see what he does. If he goes toward the place where we found the secret room, and the queer things, we'll know he has something to do with them."
"Maybe," put in Frank, with a laugh. He did not always agree with Sammy.
"Oh, of course, I'm not saying for sure," went on the other. "But will you come?"
"I don't mind," spoke Frank, after a few moments' thought. "But we'd better not go too close."
"That's what I say," added Bob. "He might try to harm us."
