“Listen! I thought I heard voices!” exclaimed Dave, suddenly, and held up his hand for silence.
All listened closely and heard a faint murmur, coming from a distance.
“Sounds to me as if it was underground,” whispered Phil.
“Yes, but from what direction?” asked Roger.
“I think it comes from over yonder,” answered Dave. “Let us go there and make sure.”
They walked on, soon coming to a spot where a place between the rocks was covered with a matting of long vines, much intertwined.
“Keep quiet!” suddenly exclaimed our hero. “I know where they are—behind those vines. There must be a cave there, and the vines make a curtain for the entrance.”
“Who is it?” asked Merwell.
“I don’t know yet. Wait, all of you remain here, behind the rocks, while I investigate.”
As silently as possible, Dave crawled forward, keeping close to the rocks on one side of the cave’s entrance. Soon he was up to the curtain of vines, and cautiously he thrust his hand forward, making a small opening.