"Yes."
Ephraim and the natives were now alarmed. It will be remembered that the universal belief among the natives is, that to go into these caves unbidden, means death. True, John had shown the fallacy of this on several occasions, but here was positive evidence that death had visited the dogs, and this might be the fate of those who attempted to go on.
But the most alarming thing was the fact that John himself was the one who said there was danger, and that they must return. He did not venture to make an explanation until they were out of the cave.
"There is carbonic acid in the cave, and as it is a deadly poison we cannot go in until it is removed."
"That seems singular," responded George. "I went in as far as the dogs, and it didn't affect me."
"But you did not reach down to touch the dog."
"I saw you touch the dog, and it didn't seem to affect you."
"I touched it with my feet and not with my hands."
"I cannot see what difference that makes."
"If you had touched the dog with your hands it would have brought your face down near the floor of the cave, and the gas is at the bottom of the cave only."