“You don’t expect stalactites or anything of that sort, do you, Jack?” asked Dick.
“No, for this is not a limestone region, like that in Kentucky or in Virginia, where there are some of the famous caves. However, it will be worth our while to go down here, I think, or I would not have undertaken it. We do not need to go very far. This place may be known, although the people in the woods hereabout don’t take much stock in such things, as they say and think tourists and summer boarders who want to explore them just a lot of crazy fools.”
“It’s an easy thing to call a man a fool because he can understand or like things that you don’t,” laughed Dick.
The boys at length got so far into the hole in the rocks that they had to make use of Jack’s pocket electric torch, and they proceeded, still on a down grade, and finding the way a bit rough in spots, but at last finding it better traveling and more level.
They had turned somewhat, and looking back, could not see the entrance where they had come in, nor the gully beyond, nor any light, Percival saying with a bit of a shudder:
“H’m! it is a bit creepy in here, isn’t it, Jack?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” laughed Jack. “I think other people have been here before us, Dick. I can see black spots on the rock overhead, as if smoke from torches had made them. Then the rock under our feet is worn somewhat. Some one has been in here before, although not recently.”
“H’m! you notice everything, as Ken Blaisdell said just now,” laughed Percival. “Does anything escape your notice?”
“Well, Dick, I have had to keep my eyes about me pretty much all of my life in order to make my way, and I suppose it has got to be a habit, but am I any more observant than most boys? They say that little children notice everything, certainly a good deal more than their parents like, sometimes. Perhaps I have not gotten over my childish habits.”
“Oh, I don’t believe you were one of those young nuisances that call attention to everything, the grandmother’s wig, the maiden aunt’s false teeth and the like,” chuckled Percival. “Yes, I think you are particularly observant and—hello! what’s that?” as a dull sound broke upon their ears.