“Did they come into the cave to shelter then?” asked Mike.
“No — that’s the funny part,” said Jack. “They didn’t! I feel absolutely certain that they came into the cave by some secret way — perhaps at the back of the temple. I believe there must be a big cave further in, where they live.”
“So those footprints we saw must be theirs, after all,” said Paul. “Oh, Jack — this is awfully exciting, isn’t it! What did Ranni say when you told him?”
“He wouldn’t listen,” said Jack. “He was angry with me.”
“Well, he’ll soon be all right again,” said Paul, cheerfully. “Ranni’s temper never lasts long. I know that.”
Paul was right. Ranni forgot his anger in a very short time, and when he came into the children’s room, he was his usual smiling self. The boys went to him at once.
“Ranni! We know where the robbers hide!”
“Ranni, do listen, please. Jack saw the robbers.”
This time Ranni did listen, and what he heard made him call Pilescu at once. The two men were eager to hear every word that Jack had to tell.
“It looks as if we shall be able to round up the robbers quickly now,” said Ranni. “Good! You must be right, Jack — there is probably a secret entrance somewhere in the cave, leading from a big cave farther in.”