“You see,” he added in conclusion, “all we need to do is to get an enlargement made. That will give us a perfect map showing all the boundaries. What’s more, it gives us proof that they stole the map.”
“I am glad,” said Kirk, “that it was not the big American Company who stole it.”
“Oh, they wouldn’t do that,” said Pant quickly. “But why are you glad?”
The other boy did not reply. A moment of silence followed. Pant dropped his film into the washing tray, then began rocking it again.
Moments passed. Only the drip-drip of water in some distant corner of the cave and the all but inaudible rush of the stream disturbed the silence of the place.
“There!” Pant breathed at last as he dropped the film into the fixing bath. “We can have more light now. How would you like to take your man here and go into the chamber just beyond while I finish this job? No harm can come of it, and you might discover something of real interest.”
For a moment the younger boy hesitated. Then, as if struck by a sudden thought, he said, “Yes. Why not?”
A moment later Pant saw the shadows of his two companions in adventure moving jerkily along the gleaming walls.
“Like ghosts,” he thought. Something like a tremor ran down his spine.
He turned to attend to his film. When he looked again they were gone. Instantly he regretted his suggestion.