Andy Fairchild Jacob "Jake" Lynn
They kept asking me about the cave, and I told them all I knew about it, that thousands of bats apparently made it their home, and that the entrance was quite large. That was all I could tell them because I had returned with Sam and Brown without even looking inside.
When we arrived at the spot both Andy and Lynn were quite excited. The cave was deep enough so that a rope ladder would be necessary in order to reach the bottom. I had brought back the same rope ladder we had used to extricate poor Sam, so we didn't have to waste time making another.
We soon had it securely fastened outside the entrance and then I said, "Well Andy, would you like to go first?"
"Heck, no," he replied, backing away. "You just went into one cave and said it was an interesting experience. Why are you afraid to go into this one?"
For a moment I thought I had another Sam on my hands. Then I realized he was right, and also that I had instigated this cave hunting party, so why shouldn't I lead the way?
If I backed out now, there would be no cave exploration, so, without a further word being said, I began to lower myself into the mouth of the cave.
Down, down, down I went. As I looked up I could see two heads peering down at me. They both wanted to make sure I reached the bottom safely. A moment later my feet touched a pile of rock on the floor of the cave. It was so dark that I couldn't see anything except the dim outline of the nearest wall.
"How ya' coming?" Andy shouted down at me.