The boards creaked dismally under their tread. More than that, they were loose in places, and Lil Artha, stepping upon the end of one, might have vanished through a gap in the floor only that his agility saved him.
"Wow, would you see that, now, Elmer!" he exclaimed, his voice sounding strange amidst such singular surroundings.
"You made a neat side step, old fellow," said the one addressed. "Some of us, more clumsy, would have slid down into the cellar."
"Say, now, I wonder—" began Lil Artha, and then stopped to stare at the treacherous plank that formed such a trap.
"You're wondering whether poor old Nat could have taken that tumble?" suggested Elmer.
"That's what I was; what do you think?" asked the tall scout.
"Here, lay hold and we'll soon find out," remarked Elmer, bending over the loose plank.
It required considerable tugging to get it out of the bed it had occupied so long, even if it was fastened by no nails.
Both of them lay down and thrust their faces into the gap.
"Looks pretty dark down there, don't it?" asked Lil Artha, who was secretly shivering with the anticipation of making a grewsome discovery, but who would not have his comrades know the true condition of his nerves for a good deal.