"And don't you leave us long in the dark," complained Ralph. "I don't believe we ought to let her take that lantern, Tom——"
"Aw, stop croaking!" commanded young Cameron. "You're worse than any girl yourself, Tingley."
Ruth hated to hear them quarrel, but she would not give up and admit that she was beaten. She took the lantern and ventured into the first tunnel. Her carriage was firmer than her mind, and before she had gone a dozen steps she was nervously sobbing, but smothered the sounds with her handkerchief.
CHAPTER XXIII
"A BLOW FOR LIBERTY"
Ruth was a healthy girl and particularly free from "nerves"; but she was frightened. She was so proud that she determined not to admit to her companions that she was lost In the caves.
Indeed, she was not entirely sure that she was lost. Perhaps this was the way she had come with Jerry. Only, she did not remember passing the little room with the four tunnels opening out of it.
This first passage into which she had ventured with so much apparent boldness proved to be the wrong one within a very few moments. She came to the end of it—against an unbroken wall.
There she remained until she had conquered her nervous sobbing and removed as well as she could the traces of tears from her face. When she returned to Tom and Ralph she held the lantern well down, so that the shadow was cast upon her face.