Part 14 (1/2)

'What do you mean-soft?'

'What I say. It feels like mud. It won't bear my weight.'

Algy stepped forward and tested it. 'You're right,' he said slowly. 'We seem to have struck a confounded bog.'

It looks as if we shan't be able to get any farther.'

'Just a minute,' put in Eddie. 'Of course, there's always a chance that the bog has only been formed in recent years, but if it was always here, then surely there must be a way across, otherwise there would be no point in making the cave.'

'That's a reasonable argument,' agreed Algy. 'All the same I can't see any bridge.' He began exploring the mud with his feet. 'Just a minute, what have we here?' he cried. 'It feels like a lump of rock just under the surface.'

Ginger tried it. 'That's what it is,' he said, standing on it. Groping with his foot, he found another. 'That's it,' he went on. 'There are stepping-stones, but either they've sunk or the mud has risen and covered them. Let's see if we can get across.'

'Gos.h.!.+ I don't think much of this,' muttered Algy as he followed. 'What about you, Eddie?' Can you manage?'

'Yes, I reckon so,' answered Eddie, holding on to the wall for support. He drew his hand away sharply. 'It's all right,' he went on quickly. 'It's only water. It's collected in a sort of basin in the rock. There must be a flaw, a fissure, in the rock, that lets the rain water in from above.'

'Water!' gasped Ginger. 'Let's have a drink. My throat's like dust.'

In a moment they were all drinking greedily out of their cupped hands.

'That's better,' exclaimed Ginger, rinsing his grimy face. 'You're sure right,' agreed Eddie. 'I feel a heap better for that.'

They now proceeded again, Ginger, carrying the flame, leading the way. Several times a false step got him into difficulties. Once he stepped off the path and sank up to the waist in slime. Algy had hard work to pull him out, while all around the disturbed area of mud quaked and threw up huge noisome bubbles.

'Phew! What a stink,' muttered Ginger disgustedly. 'We ought to have brought masks,' he added, trying to make light of the incident.

A moment later Eddie exclaimed, 'You're right at that.' About what?'

'Gas masks. My head's beginning to swim. There's sulphur in this gas. Push on, but don't fall in again, or you'll send up more gas.'

Ginger needed no second invitation, and it was with a shout of relief that he saw the stepping-stones ahead protruding above the mud. Once they could see them, progress became faster, and it was not long before they arrived at what appeared to be a continuation of the cave,, although it was now much larger.

Ginger turned, and holding up the flame in such a way that it burned more brightly, took a last look at the subterranean mere.

I say, you fellows, what's that?' he asked in a startled voice. 'I mean-that shadow- over there. It seems to be coming towards us.'

The others turned and looked, and saw, as Ginger had remarked, that a broad dark shadow was moving across the mora.s.s towards them. The strange thing about it was that it did not maintain an even rate of progress. It seemed to dart forward a little way, then pause, then come on again.

'Say! I don't like the look of that,' said Eddie. 'What could cause a shadow in here?'

'That isn't a shadow,' answered Algy in a hushed whisper. It's something-alive. I believe it's thousands of insects of some sort. Yes, by gosh, that's it. Just look at 'em.

They look like whacking great water-spiders. What do they call those big spiders?

Tarantulas. Their bite is poisonous.' He ended on a shrill note.

The others did not wait to confirm this. With one accord they turned about and fled up the cave.

After going a little way Ginger looked over his shoulder. 'Look out!' he yelled. 'They're coming!'

They blundered on. There was no longer any question of going back.

'The next time you want to go adventuring, my lad, you'll go alone,' panted Algy once, viciously.

It was more by luck than judgement that Ginger spotted the opening-or at least one opening, for there may have been others. They were not even thinking of one, for the cave still went downwards. Ginger happened to look up a side turning, and noticed a ghostly grey glow. He pulled up short.

'What's that?' he shouted.

The others stopped and looked. For a moment silence reigned.

It's daylight!' yelled Algy.

There was a rush for the spot. Algy reached it first, and gave a cry of disappointment when he saw that the light came through a narrow crack only a few inches wide, although it was a yard or more long. A mouse might have got through it, but nothing larger. Beyond, showing as a strip of blue silk, was the sky. It was obvious that the crack was merely a flaw in the rock, due, no doubt, to the effect of wind and rain on the outside.

Ginger, holding up the light, looked behind, and a gasp of horror broke from his lips when he saw the vanguard of the tarantulas only a few yards away.

Algy saw them too, and it was in sheer desperation that he flung himself against the rock, near the crack. He had no genuine hope that it would widen sufficiently to allow him to go through, consequently he was utterly unprepared for what happened. The whole rock gave way under his weight, and after a vain attempt to save himself; he fell through behind it. The next moment he was clutching wildly at anything as he slid down a short but steep slope to what seemed certain destruction, for all he could see below him was a fearful void. A little avalanche of rocks preceded him to the brink. Loose boulders followed him down. He gave himself up for lost.

When his heels struck solid ground he could hardly believe his good fortune. Then, not before, did he see where he was. He was on the stairway. On either hand ran the narrow cornice. Even then he nearly went over the edge, for a piece of rock, catching him in the small of the back, sent him sprawling. He fell across the path with his legs in s.p.a.ce. With frantic haste he drew them in, caring little that his rifle went spinning into the void.

Now Ginger's startled face had appeared at the aperture behind Algy, so he had seen everything that had happened. He also saw something which Algy did not see.

Happening to glance up the steps, he saw to his amazement and alarm that somebody was coming down-running down. There was no need to look twice to ascertain who it was. It was the Tiger. Ginger let out a yell of warning.

'Here! Grab this!' he shouted, and allowed his rifle to slide down the slope.