"I'm shot!" groaned the coon.
"It's the detectives!" gasped Mason, seeing the Bradys.
"We'll get hung!" screamed Sim, in tones of horror.
"Run for the swamp passage!"
"Put out de light!"
Mason seized the lantern and hurled it to the ground.
There was a crash, a jingle of broken glass, then dense gloom.
The Bradys paused.
They heard the patter of rushing footsteps crossing the floor, and made violent efforts to get out and unmask their lanterns.
Only a few moments passed before they had a light flashing on the scene, and they swept it around the cavern.