"It's the same name, all right. I'll bet this is some of the truck cargo."
The boxes were seven in number, and on each was inscribed the name of the Eastern Importing Company.
There was no doubt in the minds of the Hardy boys now that they had made a momentous discovery. This was plainly the hiding place of the auto thieves, and although none of the stolen cars were in evidence, the big packing boxes spoke for themselves.
"We'll see what's farther on," Frank decided.
He went ahead. Joe tiptoed close behind. The flashlight illuminated the rocky floor of the tunnel.
It began to widen out. Stacked against the wall they came upon more packing boxes, some of which had been torn open.
"More loot," Joe commented, in a whisper.
Every few steps, Frank halted and switched out the light. Then they stood in the darkness, listening. They had no desire to stumble on the auto thieves or reveal their own presence.
However, the boys heard not a sound. There was not a glimmer of light in the impenetrable gloom that lay before them.
A few yards farther, the tunnel widened out into a veritable cave. Here, as Frank turned the flashlight to and fro, and boys were con-
