Leslie laughed at Jack’s expression, but Jack looked around to see that no one was near and bent to say something low into Leslie’s ear. “Jack!” she exclaimed, as if startled. Then she looked into his eyes. “Jack, you’ve got it! That must be the matter over there,—and your aunt suspects it, but isn’t sure, or else,—”
Leslie broke off, for Sarita was coming. They both turned with smiles and Leslie said, “Jack was just telling me of all the excitement over the guests that are coming. He does not appreciate it at all and would rather help build log cabins, I guess.”
As Dalton came up to claim Jack, the girls started toward Steeple Rocks. Sarita led the way, partly by the woods, but they decided to enter the grounds near the cliffs and Sarita suggested visiting the “Retreat,” or Peggy’s little Eyrie.
They found the rocks slippery from the mist, but the more cautious Leslie followed Sarita’s lead and they reached the cave without accident. “That was a bit risky, Sairey,” she said. “We’d better come here when it is dry.” But Sarita hushed her and reminded her that they had come to see if they could notice smoke again.
Stooping, they went as far back as they could and Sarita observed that a piece of rock was loose at the hole where Peggy had been tempted to crawl in. She knelt and tugged at it, without any particular purpose except that of general investigation. To her surprise, it gave way and she nearly fell backward, losing her hold upon the rock, which rolled in the other direction, instead of out, though it seemed to stop with a bump against something.
Sarita looked up at Leslie with a comical expression as she straightened herself and leaned forward to the opening again. She was about to say something, when to the girls’ surprise they heard an exclamation, “What is that?” someone asked. Both girls instinctively drew back and put their fingers to their lips in warning to each other. But what they next heard they placed more as if the sound were conveyed through a speaking tube in this curious place.
Another voice was answering. “Rocks fall once in a while. There’s quite a crack by you. It’s more or less honeycombed, but there is no danger here.”
“I see. I noticed a little draught when I lit my cigaret.” More followed, but the persons speaking were not in the proper position now for more than a murmur to be heard.
“How lucky that we didn’t say anything near that hole!” whispered Sarita, as both girls withdrew toward the entrance. “Do you suppose that anything we have said here has been heard?”
“I scarcely think so. Something would have been done about it, you know. It looks as if the secret of Steeple Rocks were nearly ours, Sarita, doesn’t it?”