“Why worry?” he asked. “Haven’t you got your Uncle Ted?”
He had scarcely spoken when there came a terrifying sound. It was a snarl of rage, half-animal, half-human.
The half-burned match dropped from Teddy’s fingers. They were in the dark.
CHAPTER XI—THE SIMPLETON
Billie did not cry out. She was either too frightened or too brave. But the next minute Teddy’s arm had reached out and caught her to him reassuringly.
“It’s all right,” he whispered in her ear. “Just hold tight and keep still. I’ll do the talking.”
Cautiously he drew her to the back of the cave, and there they turned and waited for whatever was to happen. They did not have to wait long.
Some one or something was coming into the cave. There was a growling and muttering in the tunnel-like entrance and the sounds increased as the intruder came slowly nearer.
Then there came a stumbling sound, followed by a coarse oath that made Billie clap her hands to her ears.
“It’s a man, anyway,” Teddy whispered, adding maliciously: “Stubbed his toe on that old pitcher, I guess. Glad of it.”