CHAPTER 13 MORE TROUBLE
As the Cubs at the cave entrance pulled steadily on the rope, Mr.Hatfield was forced to move briskly along to keep from being swept offhis feet. He jerked on the rope several times as an indication that hewas safe. The signal, however, seemed to be misunderstood. At any rate,the steady pull continued.
"Come on, Brad! Dan!" Mr. Hatfield exclaimed. "They'll be dragging you innext."
Already Dan had felt a tug on the rope about his waist. He and Bradfollowed the Cub leader across the rock shelf to the tunnel of shallowwater.
"It's probably getting late," Mr. Hatfield said, splashing along. "Eitherthat, or something has gone wrong at the mouth of the cavern."
As the three proceeded toward the cave entrance, the pressure on theirropes suddenly relaxed. Evidently Mr. Holloway and the waiting Cubs nowrealized that there was no need to pull the three in. However, the triocontinued toward the exit, knowing that it was too late to do any moreexploring that night.
Coming within view of the cave mouth, they paused in astonishment. Thegap between the rocks barely was discernible as a circle of light.
"Why, it's nearly dark!" Dan exclaimed. "No wonder the Cubs decided tohaul us in!"
"We were in that cave a lot longer than we realized," Mr. Hatfieldagreed.
Mr. Holloway and the Cubs greeted the three explorers eagerly as theyemerged from the dark hole amid the rocks. Once on the beach it was muchlighter, but the sun had set and long shadows had fallen across theriver.
"We didn't mean to pull you out of there," Mr. Holloway apologized. "Thetruth is, we got worried. We'd had no signal, and it was getting late."
"You did entirely right," Mr. Hatfield assured him. "Time the Cubs arehome. Everything all right here?"
"We had one scare. It didn't amount to much. What did you learn in thecave?"
Mr. Hatfield described the explorations, declaring that he was almostcertain the underground stream emptied into Lake James.
"Just before we were hauled in, you made a discovery," Dan reminded him."What did you see?"
"The object of our search."
"Not the paddles?"
"One of them. The other may be there too. I was pulled in before I had achance to find out. The paddle I saw was back against the wall of thecave, behind the pile of balsam."
"How'd it get out of the pool?" Dan speculated. "Someone must have fishedit out."
"Oh, someone's using the cave all right," Mr. Hatfield responded. "Arugged individual accustomed to living out-of-doors."
"Maybe that mysterious fellow who's been doing the carving at theravine!" Red exclaimed.
"Could be," Mr. Hatfield agreed thoughtfully. "It's just as well wedidn't find him at home. We'll turn the job of eviction over to the parkauthorities."
"You mean we're not going to have a chance to explore the cave?" Chipsdemanded. "I say! Dan and Brad have all the fun."
"There will be plenty of time to inspect the cave later on," Mr. Hatfieldreassured him. "But routing out whoever is hiding in there isn't ourjob."
"Mr. Hatfield's right," Mr. Holloway backed him up. "Anyone who wouldchose to live in a cave must be either a fugitive or slightly demented.The fellow may be armed."
The Cubs were disappointed that they were not to be given a chance toexplore the cave for awhile. But they realized their leaders had made awise decision.
"You spoke about having a scare while we were in the cave," Mr. Hatfieldreminded the Den Dad. "What happened?"
"Oh, nothing serious. As we waited, Mack thought he heard someoneprowling about in the bushes above the cave entrance."
"I did too," Mack insisted.
"It took us awhile to scramble up there because the rocks are steep," Mr.Holloway went on. "We didn't find anyone. We had a feeling though, thatwe'd been watched."
"You probably were right about it too," Mr. Hatfield replied. "It'salmost certain someone is living in the cave."
The air had grown chilly. Dan, Brad and Mr. Hatfield, whose clothing wassoaked to above the knees, had begun to feel rather uncomfortable. Mr.Holloway proposed that they all hike back to camp as quickly as possible.
Brad and Dan, bringing up the rear of the procession, were more silentthan the other Cubs as they scrambled over the rocks to the strip ofbeach.
Reflecting upon the many strange happenings of the past few days, theywere convinced that Mr. Hatfield was right in assuming that the cave hadan inhabitant.
It occurred to Dan that the man who had taken refuge there might indeedbe the medicine man sought by White Nose and Eagle Feather.
"Do you suppose that bird, whoever he is, has Professor Sarazen's blankettucked away somewhere in the cave?" he mused aloud.
"I was asking myself the same thing," replied Brad. "I sure hope we getanother chance to explore before too long. We ought to get that blanketback before our Indian pow-wow."
The camp near Mr. Holloway's home was shrouded in evening shadow as theCubs trudged in. Heavy clouds had overspread the sky, causing darkness tocome on somewhat earlier than usual.
"I'm ashamed to have kept the Cubs so late," Mr. Hatfield apologized. "Ihope your parents won't be sore, fellows."
"I'll take everyone to town in my car," Mr. Holloway offered. "Specialdelivery service tonight."
The Cubs quickly went about the camp, gathering up the few belongingsthey had left behind. Everyone was relieved that nothing seemed to bemissing. None of the tools had been disturbed.
"All set?" Mr. Hatfield inquired, ready to leave.
"Just a minute," called Dan. "I want to look at something."
Brad was exasperated. "We're late now," he complained. "That Dan--he hasto go kiss his sand painting goodnight. He watches over it as if it werea baby."
"He's done a fine job on it so far," Mr. Holloway said warmly. "He'llonly be a minute."
Dan, however, was gone so long that the Cubs began to grumble.
"What's the matter with him anyhow?" Fred muttered. "He must be caressingevery grain of sand! I'm going after him."
"Here he comes now," Midge observed.
Dan came quickly to the group. He plainly was very angry.
"It's happened again!" he burst out.
"What's happened?" Brad asked.
"My sand painting has been ruined! There was no wind to amount toanything either! This time I know it was done deliberately."
"Well, for crying out loud!" Red cried indignantly. "Who is pulling thisstuff? I say it's time we get that guy and poke him in the nose!"
The Cubs and their leaders went back with Dan to view the painting. Alltrace of it had been obliterated.
"Even my materials are gone this time," Dan said bitterly. "I mixed thecolors so carefully too. I'm through!"
"We can't blame you for feeling that way after twice losing yourpicture," Mr. Hatfield said sympathetically. "This time we may as wellforget about it, Dan. You've more than done your part."
Dan remained silent for a moment, a little ashamed of his outburst.
"I suppose I could try it again," he said after a moment. "Time's shortthough. And there's no assurance that the sand painting wouldn't beruined a third time."
"Someone's doing it out of meanness!" Red declared. "I still think Rossmay have a finger in it."
"We've just run into bad luck, that's all," Brad said. "Our troublesbegan when we lost the paddles and the blanket. Without a sand painting,I guess Den 1 will outshine us in the handicraft contest. But it can't behelped. It's not Dan's fault."
"I'm willing to start another painting," Dan offered doggedly. "Maybe wecould set up a guard to watch."
Mr. Hatfield opposed this suggestion. "Someone would have to stay here ona twenty-four-hour schedule, Dan. That isn't practical."
"I guess not," Dan admitted gloomily.
"We're tired and discouraged tonight," Mr. Hatfield resumed. "Suppose wedecide what to do about the painting tomorrow. Meanwhile, maybe Mr.Holloway or I will
have an inspiration."
So the matter was left. As the Cubs started up the slope toward Mr.Holloway's home, Mr. Hatfield recalled that his hat was lying inside thehogan. Telling the Cubs not to wait for him, he went inside to get it.
A moment later he was outside the hut again, calling excitedly to theboys.
"Come back here a minute!" he shouted. "I want to show you something!"