Part 7 (2/2)

”I don't believe you could reach them if you did, Chicken Little. See, you'd have to go clear out on the ends of the branches. Perhaps if we'd go up on the hill above--it's pretty steep here--we could reach some. It will be hard to get through--there's a perfect rat's nest of vines and bushes.”

Chicken Little was already crawling under the overhanging vines. She soon shouted a discovery.

”Say, somebody's cut a little path here through the bushes. Come on--it's easy after you get through a little ways.”

The others followed and sure enough there was a faintly worn path leading off up the hill side. Some of the densest undergrowth had been trimmed a little to permit a fairly easy pa.s.sage.

”How queer!” Alice exclaimed. ”Somebody's been here right lately. Funny they didn't take the grapes--they're dead ripe.”

”Whoever came here last crawled right in under those vines.” Katy's sharp eyes had noticed how the weeds had been crushed down by some heavy body and that some of the vines were broken.

”You're right--they have--dear me, I hope it isn't a tramp!” Alice replied, a little anxious. ”Anyway he wasn't here today because--see those leaves he broke off are dead.”

”What do you suppose he went in there for?” demanded Katy.

”I'm sure I can't imagine--to hide maybe,” Alice looked puzzled.

”Oh, maybe he was the burglar--maybe he hid the things under there--I'm going to find out,” and before Alice could stop her, Chicken Little was disappearing under the vines again.

”O-h--Oh! I'm 'fraid! Oh, Alice, don't let her!” Gertie flew to the protection of Alice's skirts in terror and Katy edged nearer to her side.

”Don't Chicken Little--don't--come back--there might be snakes under there.” Alice was worried herself.

The mention of snakes brought Katy with a scream to cling to her arm, but Jane was not to be daunted. They could hear her puffing and breaking off twigs as she progressed. Suddenly there was a complete silence and Alice's heart jumped with fear lest something had happened to the child.

”Jane,” she called anxiously.

”I'm here, Alice, but there's something funny--there's a great big hole in between some rocks--only I can't see much, 'cause there's so many vines and it's dark.”

”Oh, do you s'pose it's a bear den? Oh, I want my mother!” Gertie began to whimper.

”Shut up, silly, there aren't any bears 'round here!” said Katy unfeelingly. ”It's a woodchuck hole most likely.”

”I wonder if it could be that cave,” said Alice. ”You wait here, girls, I'm going in there too.”

Alice fought her way in to Chicken Little's side. Sure enough there was a dark hole about two feet high.

Jane encouraged by Alice's presence was for exploring at once, but Alice caught her dress determinedly.

”Don't you dare, Jane Morton, it wouldn't be safe--there might be snakes--you can't tell what's in there. I believe whoever came in here went into that hole--see, here's two foot prints. I think we'd better get out of this.”

Alice made Chicken Little precede her back to the spot where Katy and Gertie were waiting.

The Halford girls were thoroughly frightened and clamored to go home.

Alice hesitated.

”I hate not to get some of those grapes after all our trouble. I don't believe there's anybody round here now and there hasn't been a wild animal seen on Duck Creek for years.”

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