“I do.”
“But why, if it was already known to you, have you not done this before?”
“The natives have always fought shy of going into it further than our mining operations made necessary. Besides, I never had any reason to suppose that it was more than a mere natural formation of rock—as it probably is—extending a short distance into the main body of the mountain.”
“And now?”
“I have no theory to advance. But,” he added significantly, “it was in this unexplored tunnel that David disappeared three years ago.”
The reminder had its effect. This linking up of the mysterious tunnel that had so nearly proved fatal to Andrew, with David’s first adventure suggested the possible solution of a problem that had baffled them until now. In spite of Miranda’s derisive comments on the schoolmaster’s “fairy tale,” there seemed to be only one thing to do—explore the tunnel. It might lead nowhere, and in that case the labor and the risk—if risk there was—would be of small account. If, however, it was the entrance to a subterranean dwelling, inhabited by people of whom the strange being described by Andrew was a specimen, the discovery was well worth making.
“We will rescue David!” exclaimed Una, the eagerness of hope in her voice.
“But, my young lady,” protested Miranda; “he go away many mile from this tunnel.”
“That is true,” assented Leighton.