“The search party won’t be coming until a few hours yet,” Randy said. “Besides, it’s not very far.”
Ted knew then that Randy, too, was curious about the opening. He was stalling their return.
Ted then came right out with it. “I’d sure like to know what’s on the other side of that rock.”
“Why don’t we go and see?” Randy said eagerly.
“We could go just a little way,” Ted added, glancing at Jill, whose face showed doubt. “Just a few feet even.”
Jill gave in grudgingly, but she got the boys to promise that they wouldn’t go far. “Don’t forget, we’ve got some food back there,” she reminded them, “and I’m getting hungry.”
They left the air cartridges in the cave and walked through the enticing opening, Ted in the lead. He flicked on his flashlight, for it was pitch dark. Ahead of him he saw a narrow passageway. Slowly he moved along it, Randy and Jill right behind him.
They felt themselves tumbling downward.
They were completely unprepared for the shock that next came to them. Suddenly the ground dropped away under their feet, and they felt themselves tumbling downward!