“Well, we shall see,” said Mr. Graham, “have you made out the stains on the handle, Mr. Bruce?”
“No, but they look very much like congealed blood and I suppose they are nothing else. These people probably use the spear for killing fish.”
“Why fish,” asked Onrai.
“Well, that was only another supposition of mine,” said Mr. Bruce. “You see it is hardly likely that these people have any land animals down here. Such things have never been found yet or at least not in any numbers. But fish in subterranean rivers and lakes are very prevalent; in fact an underground river or lake is seldom found without these fish, some of them, as is the case in the great Mammoth Cave of Kentucky, being without eyes. Then, we know that these people find fish in some part of their underground home, for we have the proof of it here,” and Mr. Bruce held up the spear handle.
“But do you know that that is fish bone?” asked Harry.
“Well, from what I have learned on the subject, I should say that it was,” said Mr. Bruce.
“Yes, it looks like a bone in the fish we catch in the lake,” said Onrai.
“Well, it is decided that it is a fish bone and the stains are made by the fish blood,” said Mr. Bruce. “Now, we know that somewhere in this cave there is a river or lake and I would say that the passage, which we are now traversing, is but the avenue leading to the death chamber. These people probably realize that it is best to have the dead well-removed from the living quarters, for the same reason, may be, that we do this above. Therefore we are on the right road to the living habitations of this people, if there be any of them now living. Listen,” and as Mr. Bruce, ceased speaking, he stopped and the others following his example, a low buzzing sound was heard like the hum of many voices.
“What is it,” whispered Mr. Graham.
“Hard to tell,” said Mr. Bruce, “but we will soon learn for it is growing louder,” and raising his torch he blew it out, leaving them in perfect darkness.