“In the pirate’s cave!”
“Is he lost?” Flossie wanted to know.
“You did right to come back so quickly and tell us,” Mr. Bobbsey said. “Do you know where this cave is?” he asked Mrs. Watson.
“Yes, I know of a cave,” she answered. “It isn’t a very large place, nor is it dangerous. I can’t understand about Bert’s falling. There are no holes in the place that I know of, though I haven’t been in it for years.”
“Maybe he stumbled over a ledge and fell, striking his head,” suggested Mr. Bobbsey, as he jumped up and went to his coat which was hanging on a tree near by. He took some matches from one of the pockets. “I’ll make a bark torch to go into the cave and find Bert,” he said to his wife. “I didn’t bring the flashlight. Can you show me where the cave is, Freddie?”
“I can lead you to the cave,” said Mrs. Watson, noticing that Baby Jenny was still peacefully sleeping. “Nan, you and Flossie stay here with her, and your mother and I will go with your father and Freddie to the cave.”
Nan and Flossie would have liked to go, too, to search for Bert, but they said nothing as they watched the others start.
It did not take them long to reach the place. Mrs. Watson had often been to the glen on picnics and she knew all its windings and turns. Soon they stood in front of the small cavern which Bert, in common with other boys, had named “pirate’s cave.”
“Bert! Bert! Are you all right?” his mother called. But still there was no answer.
“He didn’t speak to me, after he hollered about falling,” reported Freddie.