“Say, what’s the matter with us all, anyhow? Anyone would think this was a funeral. Wake up, you fellows!”
“All right! Wow! Let’s be jolly!” cried Ned in a loud voice.
There was a sound like thunder, and then, from that vast gorge came a mighty voice, repeating in solemn tones:
“Let’s be jolly!”
“Bless my soul!” gasped Mr. Snodgrass. “It’s an echo.”
“Echo!” came back in a voice like a bull’s bellow.
After that they spoke in whispers, but even then their words were flung back at them from the sides of the cliffs in murmurs and trills that produced an uncanny feeling.
“This sure is a strange place,” remarked Jerry, as he brought the airship to a stop.
“Strange place!” howled the echo. Jerry had spoken louder than he thought. He laughed, and a giant’s chuckle was tossed back to him. The boys looked at each other, startled, until Bob said:
“Oh, don’t let’s mind this. It’s only an echo. Let’s get busy, have a supper and to-morrow we’ll get the radium.”