Chunky was trotting along behind him, the fat boy
full of importance over the discovery they had made. At the opening
they paused, glancing apprehensively at the great roots towering
above them. Were the butt of that giant tree to settle down now, it
would crush them.
The boys stepped inside. They could see but a few feet ahead of
them, but saw that they were in a huge crevice in the rocks, a sort
of cave formed by the splitting apart of the rocks themselves, perhaps
from some long past earthquake disturbance.
"Light a match, Stacy."
The fat boy did so.
"There have been horses in here," announced Tad.
"Yes, I guess there have, but there aren't any here now."
"Fortunately for us."
The air was cool, though a little damp in the cave. To this the boys
gave no heed. They had more important matters on hand than observing
the atmosphere of the place. The cave they found was much larger than
they had had any idea of. In places the roof was all of ten feet high.
But as they penetrated further in, moving cautiously, lighting the way
with every step, the walls sloped toward the back, approaching nearer
to the floor.
Except for the light from the matches, the boys were in darkness, so
that they were not able to observe that the opening to the cave had
closed. A strong breeze, swaying the upper limbs of the tree, had
dislodged the stones and allowed the roots to slip quietly into place
again.
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