“That doesn’t look much like it,” said Pickles with a laugh.
“I wish the moon’d come out so we could see farther,” said Hal. “I hate to come so far as this and stop.”
With these words, he flashed the rays of his lantern about. At one edge of the wall they found a break that looked like the mouth of a passage, but it was blocked by a large bowlder.
“I’m going to climb over it,” said Hal. “Here, Fes, give me a boost.”
Fes did as requested. With his lantern in one hand, Hal was boosted up to the top of the bowlder, which was about five feet through and perfectly round.
“Yes, there’s a passage here,” he announced. “Come on over.”
By a series of boosts, Byron, Frank, and Fes climbed over the big rock, the latter stopping on top of the bowlder to reach assistance to Walter. After they had passed this barrier, Ferd stopped to examine it more carefully and then said:
“Let’s try to push the rock over a little. It’s balanced here on a little neck. Maybe we can move it so we won’t have to climb over it when we come back.”
Hal had gone on ahead a short distance and paid little attention to this suggestion until he turned his head and saw his four companions with their shoulders to the bowlder.
“Hey! Stop! Stop!” he cried out frantically, realizing what would happen if they moved the rock.