This he lighted with one of the precious matches and held it over his head in an attempt to pierce the dark corners of the place.
“Probably ends a few feet farther on,” said Herb, as they carefully made their way forward, groping along the damp walls of the cave. “You go ahead with your light, Bob, and lead the way. It’s as dark as pitch in this hole.”
But, contrary to Herb’s prediction, the cave did not end a few feet further on. As a matter of fact, it seemed to widen as they went forward and the boys began to feel a growing excitement.
“This is getting good,” chortled Bob, then stopped short as by the light of his torch he discovered something new. “Say, fellows,” he cried, in an excited voice, “here’s a tunnel—and, yes, there’s one on the other side.”
“Better and better!” exulted Herb. “Which one of the tunnels shall we explore first?”
“Why not take both?” asked Jimmy, who had completely recovered from his ignominious tumble. “Two of us can go down one of them and the other two can take the other.”
“Nothing doing,” said Bob, firmly. “We’re going to stick together on this jaunt. We don’t want to take any chances of our matches giving out and being left in the dark—not if I know it!”
When Bob spoke in this tone the other boys generally did as he said. And this time was no exception. They tossed coins to determine which of the diverging tunnels they would follow. This proved to be the one to the right of them.
“This piece of stick is burning out,” said Bob, as they turned down the dark passage. “Feel around and see if you can get any more, will you, fellows? If we depend on matches they will be all burnt out before we’ve seen half we want to see.”
They felt about the floor of the cave, which was damp and clammy to the touch, and finally produced a couple of sticks which might be made to do. These last were damp and rotten, but Bob finally succeeded in lighting one.