He paused and drew a long breath; his fascinated hearers sighed in sympathy. “Did you go back then?” one of them asked eagerly.
“I was thinking about it,” resumed Court, “when my thumb slipped off the flash-key, and ahead of me, not so very far away, was a little spot of light–daylight, you know. You’d better believe I hustled for it. The tunnel had been going up hill quite some, and now it began to get narrower and lower. Before very long I had to get down and crawl, and then I found the light was coming between two rocks through a crack that didn’t look more than a foot or so wide. The bottom was pounded down hard in a regular path; I s’pose that was the way the bear got in to its den. Anyhow, there was just room for me to squeeze out, and even then I cut my face and tore these holes in my suit.”
“Kind of small, then, for a full-grown bear, I should think,” commented Ranny.
Court looked a trifle foolish. “I never thought of that,” he confessed. “Still, I bet a wildcat could do it.”
“It might–only I haven’t heard of any wild-cats being around here.”
“What’s the matter with our taking a look?” suggested Dale Tompkins.
“Going through the hole Court came out of?” asked Ranny, glancing at him.
“Sure! We’ve got some flash-lights, and very likely the beast is stuck down that shaft and can’t get out. I vote we try it.”
Two or three fellows backed him up, but the others showed no great enthusiasm in the venture. They were quite willing, however, to go as far as the outside of the hole, and started off without delay, only to meet Mr. Reed with Mr. Curtis and several scouts coming up at a brisk trot.
When Court’s story had been told over again the scoutmasters decided that the investigation had better be made from the end that Court had stumbled into. They had brought the rope with them, and when one end of this was firmly fastened, Mr. Reed slid down into the old mine. He spent some time inspecting the ancient timbering, but finally decided that it was safe enough for those who wished to follow him. This meant the entire assembled crowd, and when all were gathered at the bottom, Court led the way.