She took the lantern from Tom now, and walked a little way into first the left-hand passage and then the right-hand one. It seemed to her as though there were places in the sand on the floor of this latter tunnel which had been disturbed by human feet.
"This is the path, I guess," she said, laughing and so hiding her own anxiety. "But let's take a good look at the place so we can find our way back to it if we have to return."
"Huh!" grumbled Ralph Tingley. "You're not so awfully sure; are you?"
"That's all right. Ruth was only through here once," Tom spoke up, loyally. "And we can't get really lost."
In five minutes they came into a little circular room out of which no less than four passages opened. Ruth was confident now that she was "turned around." She had to admit it to her companions.
"Well! what do you know about that?" cried Ralph. "I thought you said you could find the way?"
"I guess I can," said Ruth, cheerfully. "But we'll have to try each one of these openings. I can't be sure which is the right one."
Ralph sniffed, but Tom was unshaken in his confidence in his girl friend.
"Let me have the lantern, Tom, and you boys stay here," Ruth said, quickly. "I'll try them myself."
"Say! don't you get lost," cried Tom.