“There’s no brook around the cottage, and no water under it either.”
“I’m not concerned where the river empties,” Captain Hager said. “I do think the cottage wall connects in some way with a passage down into the cave. Where it would lead, if we get into it, no man knows.”
“You want me to tear down the foundation on a wild chance like that?”
“You’ve got to do it,” Captain Hager said grimly. He moved in close. “Either you do it like a gentleman and get credit for being a hero, or I’ll have the law on you! You can’t abandon that boy to save a dollar!”
Mr. Krumm’s eyes snapped angrily. Judy and Kathleen were certain he would order them all out of the real estate office.
“Okay, tear down the foundation!” he consented. “Get on with it!”
Once Mr. Krumm had waived his objection, men from the village, directed by forest rangers, immediately went to work.
Judy, Kathleen and the other Scouts milled about the cottage, watching as a small section of the foundation was torn apart. As the throng increased, only Miss Meadows, Miss Ward and the Scouts were permitted in the building.
Dust from the bricks and mortar kept the girls out of the cellar much of the time. But as the day wore on, a shout from below, brought them scrambling down the stairway.
By this time, one section of wall had been torn away, though the main supports of the cottage remained. The musty odor which had annoyed occupants of Calico Cottage now was very strong and definitely came from the jagged opening. A group of workmen clustered about the hole, blocking Judy’s view.
“Have you found the cave opening?” she cried. “Have you?”
“Aye,” Captain Hager informed her jovially. “But where the passage leads, we don’t know.”
“What causes the odor?” Kathleen asked, sniffing.
“Imprisoned air. It’s gradually clearing out. Like as not it comes from decaying vegetation--”
“The boy with the flute!” exclaimed Kathleen in awe.
Those in the room had frozen to attention. From the great gaping hole there issued forth a musical note, for all the world like the music of a flute.
Then there came a series of taps as if someone might be thumping a stick on hard rock.
“That’s a man-made sound!” cried Captain Hager. “Bart’s down there! He’s trying to signal us!”