ed Ted. "I didn't half look in the cave. It's a big
place. I could see in only a little way, 'cause it was so dark. I'm
goin' to tell grandpa and have him bring a lantern."

Grandpa Martin was surprised when Ted and Jan told him what they had
found in the woods.

"I didn't suppose there was a cave on the island," said the farmer. "I
must have a look at it."

"And may I come? And will you take a lantern?" asked Teddy eagerly.

"Well, yes, I guess so," said grandpa slowly.

"Oh, Father, do you think it is safe?" asked Mrs. Martin.

"Yes, I think so. I won't go very far in with the children. It may be
only the den of a fox or some small animal, and not a real cave."

"I think it's a big cave," declared Ted. "Come on, Grandpa."

"Me come!" cried Trouble, as the two Curlytops set off with Grandpa
Martin through the woods, toward the place where Teddy had fallen down
with the pile of leaves. "Me come!"

"No, you stay with me," laughed Mother Martin, catching him up in her
arms. Trouble did not want to stay behind, not having been with his
brother and sister of late as much as he wished. "We'll bake a
patty-cake!" Mrs. Martin added, and then Trouble laughed, for he liked
to help Nora bake. That is, he thought he helped. And at least he helped
to eat what Nora took out of the oven.

"Now show me where the cave is," said Grandpa Martin to Ted, as they
neared the place. "But be careful not to fall into it again."

"Oh, I've got a grapevine rope so I can pull myself out," said Jan's
brother. "Here it is, over this way."

Teddy Martin was an observing little fellow. He could find his way
around in the woods very well, once he had been to a place, and he did
not go wrong this time. He led his grandfather right to the entrance of
the cave.

And it proved to be a real cave. Grandpa Martin found this out when he
jumped down into the place where Teddy had fallen, and when the lantern
had been lighted and flashed into the dark hole.

"Yes, it's a cave all right," the children's grandfather said. "And to
think the many times I've been on this island I never found it! Well,
I'll go in a little way."

"Can't I come?" asked Ted, as he saw his grandfather start into the dark
hole which spread out from the open place into which Ted had fallen.

"I'm not coming," declared Janet, "and I don't want to stay here all
alone."

"You stay there with your sister, Curlytop," directed Mr. Martin. "If I
find out it's all right and is