"Of course," Bob went on saying; "but all the same I don't think you
are. After you've shown me, it's just like that egg Columbus stood up
on end, after cracking the shell a bit--as easy as jumping off a log,
once you know how. But now we're in here, I hope we find out the truth
soon, don't you, Frank?"
"Honest now, Bob, I don't care how quick it comes," replied his chum,
frankly.
"This is a terrible place, with panthers hanging around, and that
thunder banging to beat the band every minute or so. I'm only
wondering, Frank, what would become of us if that old geyser should
take a notion to explode suddenly, and flush every avenue out of the
heart of the mountain."
"Don't mention it, please," Frank answered, with a shrug of his
shoulders. "If such a thing happened we wouldn't know what hurt us,
I'm afraid."
"Huh! some consolation in that, anyhow," grunted Bob. "If a fellow has
to go up against the buzz-saw, the sooner it's over the better."
"But nothing of the kind is going to happen," Frank insisted; "and you
want to get the idea clean out of your head. We're making fine
progress, and any minute, now, I expect we'll run across the party who
occupies this cave."
"But every time the blowout comes, away goes our light; and another
spouting is about due now, I reckon," ventured Bob.
"I've got an idea I may be able to save the torch," Frank remarked. "I
don't know just how it's going to work; but anyhow the thing's worth
trying.
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