grimly.

"Tell us what happened," urged Fred.

John was much more composed now and had better control of himself.

"I went into the cave," he began. "I walked along and didn't see a
thing. I was beginning to think that that chest was the only thing there
and I kept thinking what a strange thing it was. I had gone in to find
out where that patch of light came from you know, so when I came to it I
looked up." John stopped speaking.

"What then?" demanded Grant in a tense voice.

"I saw a man," said John, and he shivered violently.

"Yes," urged Grant. "What kind of a man did you see?"

"An old man with white hair and a long white beard."

"What did he do?"

"He was looking in the other end of the opening. I just took one look at
him and ran."

"Did he see you?"

"I don't know. I didn't wait for anything."

"Was he alone?"

"I think so," said John. "At least I saw only one. I suppose I am a
coward to be so frightened by an old man like that, but it was so
unexpected. The opening was narrow like a chimney-flue and it gave me
such a start to see some one at the other end."

"Well, I don't blame you," said Grant grimly. "It would have scared me
too."

John scrambled to his feet. "Let's go back in and see if he's still
there. I'm ashamed of the way I acted and I want to make up for it."

"That's what I say," exclaimed George. "Clear up this business. One old
man can't hurt us very much."

"Unless he has a gun," said Fred.

"That's true," agreed George. "I never thought of that."

"Not much chance of his having a gun, I guess," said Grant. "I'll risk
it anyway if the rest will."

"Maybe it was Sam you saw," said Fred suddenly.

"With white hair and a white beard? I guess not," laughed George grimly.

"He might have been playing a joke on us," suggested Fred.

"If he was, he'll never live to tell the tale," cried John fiercely.

"If that fellow was looking through the top of that opening, he won't be
in the cave," said Grant suddenly. "Why don't we look for him on top of
the hill?"

"That's true," agreed George. "Can we get up from here?"

The four boys looked up to see what kind of a climb it would be.
Suddenly, Fred burst out laughing. His companions turned and looked at
him in amazement. He laughed and laughed until the tears came to his
eyes.

"What's struck you, Fred?" demanded George angrily.

"Oh, John," gasped Fred, when he could get his breath. "You poor
simpleton."

"What are you