“This is a nice pickle!” exclaimed Bob, who was the first to rise.
“What’s the matter, lost your collar button?” sleepily inquired Jerry.
“No, but the mule knocked the ladder down, and we’ll have to jump or stay here.”
“It isn’t far to the ground in this shanty,” remarked Jerry. “Go ahead and drop down.”
“It may not be very far,” said Bob, “but I don’t want to take the chance.”
“Afraid you’ll sprain your ankle?”
“No, but I don’t want to fall into the cistern.”
“Cistern? What are you talking about?”
“Well,” went on Bob, “there’s a cistern right under this ladder opening. The mule pulled the cover off last night, and whoever drops down is going to land goodness knows where.”
The others soon confirmed what Bob had said. When the cabin was built a cistern had been sunk in the middle of the ground floor. This had been covered, and the ladder rested on it when the travelers went to bed, but the mule, probably in search for a drink, uncovered it.