“If there isn’t another outlet to the cave. But come on.”
Forward they pressed. They could still hear the noise made by the man, and once they were startled by his mocking laugh. So close was it that they knew he must have doubled on his tracks and returned toward them.
“There are several passages in this cave, I’m sure of it,” declared Frank. “We’ll have to be careful not to get lost.”
“That’s right. This fellow must be at home here. But the floor is beginning to slope upward. Say, it’s damp in here, all right,” Andy added, as he stepped into a little puddle of water.
“From the rain, I guess,” replied Frank.
“Hu! How could rain get in here?”
“It must have soaked in through the roof. But we can’t talk and listen for that man. Let’s hurry on.”
Once more they advanced, but they became confused by many windings and turnings of the dark passages, until Frank called a halt.
“Let’s consider a bit,” he said to his brother. “We can’t go on this way. We’ve got to mark some of these passages so we’ll know them again if we come by. Otherwise we’ll get all confused.”
“Good idea. Make some scratches on them with your knife. That will do.”