Janet sat down on a log near by.

"I'm sorry you fell in the mud, Teddy," she said, "but I'm glad I can
rest, for I'm awful tired. You go so fast!"

[Illustration: HAL WALKED BOLDLY INTO THE DARK CAVE. _Page 224_]

"Come on, hurry up!" called Hal, as Ted still brushed away with the
bunch of grass. "Let it dry and it will come off easier."

"I guess it will," agreed Ted, looking at his muddy stocking. "It won't
come off this way."

However, the accident had given his sister a little chance to rest, and
now Janet was able to keep up with the boys. Pretty soon they were near
the hole into which Ted had fallen, and out of which the cave opened.

"Now be careful!" whispered Hal, as he got out his flashlight. "Maybe
the tramps are there!"

"I've got my hatchet!" exclaimed Ted.

"I'm not going in if the tramps are there," declared Janet.

"We'll look first, and see," offered Hal.

"But I don't want to stay here alone!" objected Janet, as her brother
and Hal slid down into the hole and looked into the black opening of the
cave.

"We won't go very far," promised Ted. "We'll be back in a minute. Don't
be afraid."

Then he and Hal went into the cave, while Jan, half wanting to cry,
waited outside.

CHAPTER XIX

THE BLUE LIGHT AGAIN

Flashing his light about, Hal walked boldly into the dark cave. Ted
followed, just a little bit afraid, though he did not want to say so.

"Don't go too far," begged Janet's brother. "Jan'll be afraid if we
leave her alone."

"I won't go far," promised Hal. "I just want to see if there're any
tramps in here."

"Listen an' maybe you can hear them talking," suggested Ted.

Hal, though larger and older than Ted, was not quite brave enough to go
very far into the dark cave, even if he did have his light with him. So,
after taking a few steps, he stopped and listened. So did Ted.

They could hear nothing but the voice of Janet calling to them from
outside.

"Ted! Hal!" cried the little girl. "Where are you? I'm going back to
camp!"

"We're coming!" answered Ted. "Come on back and get her," he added to
his chum. "Then we'll look for the blue rocks."

"I guess we can't find them unless they're right around here," returned
Hal, as he moved his light about in a circle.

"Why not?" asked Ted.

"Because this cave is so dark, and my flashlamp doesn't give much light.
We could hardly see the stones if they were here."

"Then how are we going to get 'em?" Ted demanded.

"