"I know it's a hole. I reckon that's about all that anybody knows about it. It's a dark sort of a place. I ain't got no fancy for goin' into it."
"Does it connect with the main part of the cavern?"
"Maybe it does, and maybe it doesn't; but most likely it does; only I don't think that anybody would be after trying to find out."
"You have never been through that hole, then?"
"I ain't never been inside of it," replied Nick, with perfect truth.
Handsome thought a moment, and then he asked suddenly:
"Turner, who sent you up here?"
"Nobody sent me; why?"
"Didn't the people of Calamont send you to find me and my followers?"
"Nary a bit of it."