Of course they thought of enlarging the mouth of the cave, for they became the prey of an insatiable curiosity to see what was inside this mysterious hole in the mountainside. But to do this was almost impossible. The mouth of the cave was flanked by heavy rocks and it would take many hours of work to remove these, if, indeed, the feat were possible at all. And they were too lazy—or perhaps not quite curious enough—to take the trouble.
However, they thought of the cave often and gradually it became surrounded, in their own minds at least, by an air of mystery.
Herb thought it might have been the retreat of smugglers in olden days, Jimmy had it a counterfeiters’ den and Joe even went so far as to say that it might be in use now as a hiding place for contraband liquors. And so they got a great deal of fun from the discovery of the cave, even if they could not go any further in their explorations.
When they were not wandering about the woods, they were either at the ranger station, hobnobbing with the good-natured fellows there and discussing radio with the red-headed operator, or they were at home in the lodge, sending out messages from their own radio set. They received messages also, for there was a broadcasting station not so far away but what they might catch an occasional concert and some of the talks.
They had set up their apparatus soon after arriving and not until they had the set “ready for business” did they begin to feel really “at home.”
“Never lonesome these days—even in the backwoods!” cried Joe, as he joyfully clapped on a pair of head phones. “All you have to do is listen in on a concert or two to imagine you are back in dear old Clintonia again.”
“Far be it from us to imagine any such thing,” retorted Bob quickly, at which the boys had chuckled appreciatively. As a matter of fact, they were having far too good a time to wish themselves in Clintonia or anywhere but where they were.
Then one day, wandering in the woods, they came across their second great discovery. This was a quiet pool deep and still, surrounded by low-bending trees whose foliage fairly swept the placid surface of it.
The boys were quiet, lost in admiration of the beauty of the scene, then suddenly Jimmy was struck by an idea.