The cousins looked at one another with questioning eyes. In their opinion the explanation could hardly be called simple! Mr. Travers, however, went on. “After you had been rescued, Mennell, our foreman, gave orders for the men to cease work at that point. He wanted investigations to be made, after consulting me. The following day, however, we found the cave had filled with water, and the pumps were kept very busy, I can tell you. Then part of the flooring caved in, and the walls gave way. Oh, it was a horrid mess! However, it was eventually cleared away, and we discovered the subterranean passage. Very ingenious indeed.” And he rubbed his hands together. The boys were frankly puzzled.
“When did you leave Karragua?” asked Mr. Travers suddenly.
“Karragua?” asked Alan.
“Yes, Karragua.”
Desmond opened his mouth as if about to speak, but Alan was the first to recover his wits.
“Before we tell you our story, won’t you tell us what you discovered?” he asked shrewdly.
“Certainly, my friend. I suppose it was some bet you had on?”
“Something of the sort,” agreed Alan, now wholly puzzled.
“I thought so. I knew I was right. I shall take a bottle of rum off Old Man Paterson now. I told him it was the result of some freakish wager—he would have it you had discovered it by accident.”
“Do go on,” urged Alan. The situation was becoming desperate. Neither of the boys had the slightest idea of what Mr. Travers was talking about.