“What have you found?” Brad demanded, for the Cub leader’s broad back blocked out the view.
“An old coffee can used for cooking a stew, or something of the sort. The rock is blackened from smoke. The coals are still faintly warm to the touch.”
“Gosh! Then our cave dweller has been here probably today!” Dan exclaimed, gazing quickly over his shoulder. “I wonder where he is now?”
Mr. Hatfield moved deeper into the chamber, away from the pile of balsam.
“Say, here’s something!” he cried. “I’ve found—”
But Dan and Brad did not learn what it was their leader had discovered in the darkness. In bending over he unintentionally had given the rope about his waist a quick jerk. At the mouth of the cave, the Cubs began to pull him in.
“Hey!” Mr. Hatfield exclaimed. “What’s coming off? I didn’t give the signal.”
Again the rope jerked. To avoid being pulled into the pool, Mr. Hatfield had to retreat backwards around the ledge.
“Those Cubs!” he exclaimed with an annoyed laugh. “They’re pulling me in! Either they’re worried because we’ve been gone so long, or something’s happened at the cave entrance!”