grip. The rest went like greased lightnin', an' the end got
coiled around Mike Berry's yaller dog, an' took it along. The poor
beast never came up again."

Daddy Perkiss paused for sheer want of breath, and looked around to note
the effect of his story.

"That yarn was started years ago," whispered Mose Hocker, coming close
up to the boys, "an' Daddy has told it so many times that he believes
every word. I reckon the most of it's true though. It would take more'n
one clothesline to reach bottom out here."

"But has the place never been sounded?" asked Ned. "Have you never tried
it yourself?"

Mose Hocker shook his head vigorously. "What would be the use?" he
replied. "Nobody doubts it. Why, Rudy's Hole is known an' dreaded for
miles around."

Evidently regarding this argument as a clincher he turned aside, and
began to talk to Daddy Perkiss.

About this time Randy was doing a good deal of thinking. He had listened
with incredulous interest to the old man's narrative, and knowing how
prone country folk are to accept any fanciful story--especially a long
standing tradition--without ever attempting to verify it, the conviction
had forced itself upon his mind that Rudy's Hole was a myth--in other
words that its depth was nothing extraordinary.

Randy was a good swimmer, but a far better diver. He was long winded,
and his staying qualities under water had always been a source of
admiration and envy to his companions.

It now occurred to him, with irresistible fascination, what a fine
thing it would be to recover Mose Hooker's gun, and show these people
what a delusion they had been laboring under all their lives.

It took Randy but a short time to make up his mind, and walking over to
Mose Hocker, he asked abruptly: "Could you tell me just where your gun
fell in?"

"I reckon I could if there was any need of it," was the drawling reply.
"I happened to notice my bearings at the time. I was straight down from
that rock out there, and straight out from the big button wood tree on
yonder shore--right over the deepest part of the Hole."

"All right!" said Randy quietly. "Now if you will lend me your boat for
about ten minutes I think I can restore you your gun."

CHAPTER XVI

A SHATTERED DELUSION

The burst of derisive laughter that greeted his proposition in no way
disconcerted Randy. He waited quietly until it was over, and then
repeated his request.

"Ho! ho!" cackled Daddy Perkiss; "is the lad tired