“We haven’t found our missing paddles though,” Brad remarked. “Wouldn’t you think they’d be floating around in this pool?”
“One would think so, unless they were sucked on down the tunnel to Lake James,” Mr. Hatfield remarked.
He trained his most powerful flashlight on the dark stream. No longer a whirlpool, only a slight circular motion could be observed.
Piles of sticks and debris drawn into the cave from the river, had accumulated against the rough chamber walls.
“Say, what’s that over on the ledge?” Brad demanded.
He focused his flashlight. The battery, however, had grown weak, and the light annoyingly blinked out.
Mr. Hatfield centered his ray upon the ledge. The Cubs then made out a pile of balsam boughs neatly piled against the wall.
“Balsam!” Dan exclaimed. “Freshly cut too!”
“Someone must have been using the boughs for a bed,” Brad reasoned. “Recently, too.”
“It does look as if this cave is being used,” Mr. Hatfield said. “Let’s look closer at that balsam pile. Be careful though. The ledge is slippery.”
“I’ve come to the end of my rope!” he announced. “And that’s no joke.”
“I can’t make the ledge either,” Brad reported. “The slack is practically all gone out of my rope. I’ll have to untie it.”
“No, don’t do that,” Mr. Hatfield ordered. “Just wait for me.”
While Dan and Brad remained on the narrow portion of the ledge, he circled around to the wider section.
Waiting rather nervously, the two boys found themselves shivering. A cold breath of air seemed to be circulating in the chamber. Their clothing was wet to above their knees, adding to their discomfort.
“Wish he’d hurry,” Dan muttered. “I’m getting anxious to get out into the sunshine again. This cave would give a fellow the creeps if he stayed here too long.”
Mr. Hatfield had bent down to examine the pile of balsam boughs.
“Someone’s been sleeping here all right,” he called to the Cubs. “And cooking in the place, too!”
“What have you found?” Brad demanded, for the Cub leader’s broad back blocked out the view.
“An old coffee can used for cooking a stew, or something of the sort. The rock is blackened from smoke. The coals are still faintly warm to the touch.”
“Gosh! Then our cave dweller has been here probably today!” Dan exclaimed, gazing quickly over his shoulder. “I wonder where he is now?”