He focused his light to the right, and the girls saw the meeting place of wall and water.
“The siphon?” Judy asked.
“Aye, how far it goes, no man knows. It may extend for only a few feet or yards. Then again, it may run on indefinitely, with nary a pocket of air.”
“Bart—?” Judy hesitated to ask the question that was foremost in her mind.
“Surely he wouldn’t be crazy enough to try to swim through the siphon!” Kathleen exclaimed.
“The lad is a true spelunker, like his father. He has the courage of a lion, and the muscles of a young bear. Since he was a mere boy, he’s studied and dreamed about this cave.”
“But we’ve seen no evidence that he’s anywhere in the cavern,” Judy said hopefully.
“No evidence?” Captain Hager’s voice was muted, as his light came to focus upon a rock shelf a few feet above the river bed.
For a moment, neither Judy nor Kathleen understood.
Then, they fully comprehended. There on the rock ledge, set heel to heel, was an empty pair of shoes. Beside them, in a neat roll, was Bart’s shirt and jacket.