A PERILOUS SITUATION
The three Army Boys started back almost letting go the trap door in their desire to escape the noxious odor and fill their lungs with the cool winter air.
"What is this anyway—the entrance to the infernal regions?" asked
Billy.
"If it were, it couldn't smell much worse, I imagine," answered
Bart.
"We're not going to let a thing like that hold us back, are we?" asked Frank impatiently.
"Of course not," replied Billy. "But that doesn't say we have to like it, does it? Flash that light of yours and let us see just what this sweet smelling thing looks like."
Frank directed the rays of his flashlight into the gloomy recess, and the light fell on a small platform about four feet below the level of the ground. Two or three stone steps descended from this and then they could faintly see a rough stone floor from which several passages branched out in different directions.
He returned the light to his pocket, and the three held a whispered conversation.
"Well, fellows, you've seen as much of it as I have," said Frank.
"What do you say? Shall we explore it?"
"Sure thing," replied Bart. "What do you think we are, a bunch of four flushers?"