"When did this happen?" asked Randy.
"'Bout half an hour ago; anyway not much mor'n that."
"But the gun surely isn't lost for good. Why don't you dive after it?"
The man thrust his hands into his pockets and stared blankly at Randy. The three fishermen smiled and nudged each other.
"Why don't you dive after it?" repeated Randy. "If you can tell me the exact location I'll get it for you."
"You will, will you?" exclaimed the man impressively. "Waal, I reckon you'd have a stiff contract. Did you fellows never hear of Rudy's Hole? Thar it lies right in front of you, and there ain't no bottom to it."
"Hold on, Mose Hocker," exclaimed one of the fishermen. "There must be bottom somewheres, of course, but it's mighty far down."
The boys looked at one another incredulously and smiled. The idea of a bottomless hole in the Conodoguinet was ridiculous.
At that moment an old man with bent back and white hair hobbled down the path from the road above, leaning heavily on his cane, which was his constant companion.
"Good afternoon, Daddy Perkiss," exclaimed Mose Hocker. "I'm glad you come along. I lost my gun out in the Hole a while ago, and this chap here offers to dive arter it. You've lived around these parts nigh onto eighty years. Tell him how fur down he'll have to go to reach that weapon."