Old Captain Hager acted as if he had not heard the question. He fussed with the painter of the rowboat for a moment, and then remarked offhand:
“So you gals have met Bart Ranieau? Now there’s a fine lad, smart as a whip and with the courage of a young lion. He told you about Hager’s Hole?”
“Calico Cave?” inquired Judy.
“Hager’s Hole,” the old man repeated. “I don’t take stock of that new fancy name Krumm tacked on. Bart told you about his father losing his life in the cave?”
“Why no!” exclaimed Judy.
“He did say something about an explorer trying to find the cave’s exit, and never being heard of again,” Virginia added.
“That was Bart’s father,” the Captain informed her. “His son’s a chip off the old block. Lots of sand in the craw! Bart’s trying to work his way through college by peddlin’ milk. Aye, he’s an up and comer!”
“How did Bart’s father lose his life?” Miss Ward inquired.
The old captain’s gaze swept the river and lifted to fasten thoughtfully upon the dark entranceway of Calico Cave.
“No one knows,” he replied. “Not for sure. Folks say though, that it was the siphon that did for him.”