All halted at once, gazing up the hillside, where Dave pointed.
"Fellows, there's a big rock cropping up, and do you see that hole leading into it?"
"Looks like a bear's hole," suggested Dan, with another grin.
"Cheer up!" advised Dick, smiling. "There haven't been any bears in this part of the country in a century. But come on, fellows! That place is worth looking into."
Willingly enough all trotted up the slope to the hole in the rock, though, truth to tell, all the boys were rather footsore by this time.
The hole in the wall of rock proved to be some three feet in diameter. Dick struck a match and peered in.
"This tunnel seems to go in as far as I can see with the help of the match," young Prescott announced. "Fellows, some of us will have to crawl in here and see what we can find."
"Better not," advised Dan. "Greg isn't in there. And if that hole isn't the home of a bear then it's snakes. Ugh!"
"I'll go in with you, Dick," agreed Dave. "As for Dan, you stay out—'fraidcat'!"
"No more afraid than you are!" retorted Dalzell, stung into sudden spirit. "If you rascals are going to crawl in there, then I'm going with you. Can't take 'no' for an answer."