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A Terrifying Loss






 

" WHO'S that? " demanded Joe, scrambling to his feet.

There was no answer.

" Fellows! Wake up! " Joe exclaimed as he stumbled about in the darkness, trying to find his flashlight.

" What's the matter? " came Chet's sleepy voice. " It isn't morning yet. Let me sleep."

" Wake up! Someone's prowling around here."

" Maybe it was Biff, " came Frank's voice. " Biff, you here? "

There was a deep sigh. Then Biff said drowsily, " Of course I am, why? "

Frank switched on his flashlight and played the beam around the cave. Biff and Chet sat up in their blankets and blinked. " What's wrong? " Biff demanded.

Joe told about the intruder.

" Did he go out the front way? " Biff asked.

Joe shook his head. " No. He seemed to go farther into the cave."

" Well, then, " Frank said decisively, " we'll go look for him."

The boys hurriedly dressed, and taking flashlights, followed Frank deeper into the stygian cave. Thirty paces ahead they were confronted by an arch in the rock, an opening that seemed to lead into a tunnel. They walked into it cautiously, and Frank kept his light focused on the floor to make sure no pitfalls lay before them.

The tunnel was about fifteen feet in length and six feet high. As the floor was of solid rock, they were unable to find any footprints indicating that someone had passed that way.

The tunnel led to another cave. " Maybe there's a regular chain of caves! " Joe exclaimed as the boys stepped out into a massive underground chamber.

" I guess ours is only the beginning, " Chet remarked.

In the glow of their flashlights the foursome saw that the huge room in which they now stood had a number of dark openings in the walls. These were, presumably, tunnels leading into caves beyond.

Frank frowned. " There are at least a dozen different passages out of here. The prowler might have taken any of them."

" Let's tackle the biggest, " Biff suggested.

" Good idea. If we don't get anywhere, we'll try the others."

The largest tunnel was straight ahead. The boys crossed the cavern and Frank led them into the dark passage. Seconds later he exclaimed softly, " Look! "

" What? "

" A footprint."

Clearly discernible was the imprint of a boot in a patch of wet sand.

" We're on the right trail, " Joe said quietly. " Come on! "

With increasing excitement, the searchers pressed forward and in a few moments emerged into another cave. This was an enormous underground vault, the largest they had seen yet. Even the four flashlight beams failed to reveal all of the rocky walls and ceiling.

As they started to cross it, Biff's light went out. He muttered in annoyance and tried to coax a gleam from the silvery tube. No luck.

" Take mine, " Frank offered, but Biff declined. " Stay close, then, " Frank said as they continued across the huge cavern.

The floor of the cavern was piled high with rocks, evidently from cave-ins over the years. In other parts it was pitted with gullies and holes. In trying to avoid these, the boys gradually became separated.

Biff stumbled along behind. He felt the loss of his flashlight, but said nothing, relying on the radiance provided by the others.

Soon, however, the three lights became widely scattered. Biff found himself in total darkness.

He stood uncertainly for a moment, then called out, " Hey, fellows, wait for me! "

He took a step forward and stumbled. As he fell, he groped wildly for a firm rock, but there was nothing there.

With a cry of terror Biff hurtled down into blackness.

For a moment the other three boys froze in their tracks. Then they shouted for Biff, time and again, but there was no answer. They searched frantically among the rocks and crevices, but found no sign of him.

In the glow of the flashlights they looked at one another anxiously and listened in vain for a faint cry. There was no sound but the echoes of their own voices.

" We won't give up! " Frank vowed. " We'll search every pit and hole in here! "

With desperate patience they scoured the cave, but at last were forced to admit that it was no use.

" This place is too big, " Chet said dejectedly. " We need more light." He sat down on a rock and buried his face in his hands.

" I have an idea, " Frank offered. " Let's build a fire. That'll help."

Chet brightened. " Good idea! "

" Come on, " Frank said. " We have lots of wood left in the outside cave."

" That's not a bad stunt! " Joe declared hopefully. " With a roaring bonfire we'll be able to light up the whole place enough to see what we're doing."

The boys retraced their steps into the outer cavern where they had slept. They filled their arms with wood and were about to re-enter the tunnel when Joe noticed something that made him drop his wood on the stone floor with a clatter.

" What's wrong? " Chet asked.

" That's funny, " Joe returned. " I was sure we left our supplies right near this woodpile."

" We did, " Frank assured him.

Joe turned his flashlight on the place where the greater part of their supplies had been stacked. A loaf of bread and a tin of sardines lay on the rock, but that was all.

" They've been stolen! " Frank exclaimed.

" By that prowler, I'll bet! " Joe said. " He probably hid himself until we passed, then sneaked back here and stole our food."

" We can't worry about that now, " Frank said grimly. " Let's go! "

Swiftly Joe gathered up his firewood and the boys returned to the big vault.

Hastily the fire was built and soon the flames flared high. The companions were surprised at the number of holes and crevices now revealed.

" It's a wonder we weren't all killed, " Chet said. " We were prowling around this chamber without any idea of the real danger.''

Methodically the boys resumed their search, investigating each opening, deep or shallow. But in spite of the extra light and all their shouting, their efforts were in vain.

" I'm afraid it's no use, " Chet said, gulping. " It's as if Biff was swallowed up."

" We need help, " Frank said tersely. " We'll go to the village and get some men with ropes and searchlights."

Disconsolately the boys turned back. But as they did, Chet let out a bloodcurdling cry.

On the wall of the cavern flickered the huge shadow of a hand!

 


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