After the yearlong absence of The Mysterious Benedict Society, whispers of sightings were heard across Stonetown yesterday as the group was reportedly spotted on board an unidentified ship. While no one is sure whether the group remained on board and if so, where they will go once the ship lands, everyone seems to agree on one thing – the team looked worried.

Bystander Seymour Withise was convinced that the foursome he saw racing through the streets of Stonetown had to be the Society noting, "It was hard to miss 'em – especially the one with that scowl on her face."

A passenger on the ship seems to back Withise's account. In a call to The Chronicle, she mentioned a "group of four children" were on the deck of her boat huddled around a bird and talking in code.

Debates have raged over the accuracy of the Society's first adventure, which hit bookshelves in early 2007. Now, a second book details a journey full of mysterious clues, a dangerous scavenger hunt and some evil blockades. It would seem these stories may very well be true – so the question remaining is: where is the Society now?