"I did not say it was dark. I made the discovery before that."
"Tell us about it," urged Walter.
"You didn't find any of Eagle-eye's evil spirits down there, did you?" asked Ned.
"No. I wish I had. I should have been glad of company of any kind."
"We want to hear how you got out," spoke up Chunky. "I—I came pretty near falling in after you, too."
"Yes, I know. Well, to begin with, before I found the moccasin track I noticed that there was room to walk along by the side of the stream. When the moon came up, not being able to sleep, for some reason—I guess it was on account of the water that made such a racket, I thought I'd look around a bit. After I got started I kept on going and going, and the further I went the less steep did the banks appeared—"
"How far did you go?" interrupted the Professor.
"I haven't the slightest idea."
"I presume you found no great change in the topographic features of—"
Tad laughed good-naturedly.