As the boy scouts began to feel more comfortable, their spirits commenced to go upward again, just as the mercury in a thermometer rises with the coming of heat.
"We're a lucky lot, I tell you, fellows, to stumble on such a fine snug hole in the nick of time!" declared Tom Betts, as he rubbed his hands together, before giving his place in the front rank to another scout less favored, and still shivering.
Some of the scouts were so utterly exhausted
that presently, when they began to feel more comfortable, as their clothes dried in a measure, they gave evidence of drowsiness.
Mr. Gordon made these fellows lie down in a heap, and try to sleep. They would secure a certain degree of warmth by contact with their mates.
But there were others of just a contrary mind, who had never been more wideawake in their lives than just then. Sleep was the last thing they thought about.
"I wonder where this cave leads to?" remarked Bobolink, after more than an hour had elapsed.
Paul was interested, of course. Anything that bordered on mystery at all, always had a peculiar fascination for him. And Jack was pretty much of the same mind.
"If we could only get a few torches together," the former observed in answer to Bobolink's remark, "I'd just like to take a little trip around, and see what lies back there. Some of us have gone fifty feet and more, looking for more wood; and there was no back wall to the place. Perhaps it might have another entrance; and I'd just like to know whether any other fellows ever did camp in here. If we found the ashes of a fire we'd know for certain."
"Let's go!" suggested Bobolink, ready for any lark.