“But you don’t know, my lad. There may be dangerous wild critters in there as you never heard tell on. Graffems, and dragons, and beasts with stings in their tails—cockatoos.”
“Nonsense! Cockatrices,” said Don laughing.
“Well, it’s all the same. Now, do be advised, Mas’ Don, and stop here.”
“But I want to know what it’s like farther in.”
Don went slowly forward into the dim mist, and Jem followed, murmuring bitterly at his being so rash.
“Mind!” he cried suddenly, as a louder whistle than ordinary came from the depths of the cave, and the sound was so weird and strange that Don stopped short.
The noise was not repeated, but the peculiar hissing went on, and, as if from a great distance, there came gurglings and rushing sounds, as if from water.
“I know we shall get in somewhere, and not get out again, Mas’ Don. There now, hark at that!”
“It’s only hot water, the same as we heard gurgling in our bath,” said Don, still progressing.
“Well, suppose it is. The more reason for your not going. P’r’aps this is where it comes from first, and nice place it must be where all that water’s made hot. Let’s go back, and wait close at the front.”