think of it."

"That will all depend on how we look to them," said Dean.

"Exactly," said his cousin, "and that means that we mustn't behave like
a pair of shivering girls."

"And then?" asked Dean.

"And then--go right straight in and along that narrow passage wherever
it leads. I don't suppose we shall find any ghosts of the old people.
I say, how easy it is to frighten yourself in a place like this!"

"Oh, I don't know. It is very creepy."

"Seems to be," said Mark--very emphatic over the "Seems."

"But it will be dangerous as well as horrid to go along a place like
this."

"Why?"

"There may be serpents, or baboons, or no one knows what fierce animals
may make it their lair. Then too there may be holes and cracks."

"Course there may be," said Mark, "but we shouldn't be such a pair of
noodles as to come here without a lantern or two."

"And plenty of candles," said Dean.

"Of course. There, it is very evident that those two have given us the
slip. Let's give them one more shout, and then get back."

"Oh, never mind the shout," said Dean hurriedly. "We will go back at
once. I wouldn't be overtaken here when the sun goes down, and lose my
way, for I don't know what."

"Why?" said Mark, half mockingly.

"Because--because," replied his cousin, with something like a shiver,
"uncle and the doctor would be so uneasy."

Mark gave his companion an arch look, and there was a faint smile upon
his countenance as his eyes seemed to say--"Oh, Dean, what a humbug you
are!"

The boy read it as meaning this, and he said hastily, "Don't laugh at
me, old fellow. Hope I am not going to have a touch of fever, but I do
feel very queer."

"Let's get back, then, old chap," said Mark, clapping his companion on
the shoulder. "But don't you fancy that. It's damp and cold here, and
no wonder. Come along. I think I can find my way back; don't you?"

"Don't know. I am not at all sure. It must be getting late, and in
here it will be as dark as pitch as soon as the sun's down. I say,
don't you think we were rather foolish to come so far?"

"Well, yes, it was rather stupid, but one was led on by a feeling of
excitement. For it would be horrible if we sent those two poor fellows
to where they may get into trouble and never come back."

It was about an hour later that, after forcing their way through the
almost impenetrable bushes, climbing over stones and round them, and
losing themselves again and again in