for a moment he could see nothing.

"Anyone there?" asked Paul.

"Not a soul," was the disappointing reply. "It's empty."

"Oh, dear!" sighed Alice.

"What are we to do?" Ruth wanted to know.

No one could answer her. Russ was busy making a more thorough examination
of the interior of the hut.

"It's a good place to stay--if we have to," he said to Paul, who had
joined him inside.

"And it looks as though we'd have to--eh?"

"I'm afraid so."

Russ fastened the palm curtain back and this let in more light. Then the
others came up, though there was not room for them all inside. The hut
would hold three comfortably--no more.

"Who has been here?"

"What sort of a hut is it?"

"Has anyone been here lately?"