" With
that she disappeared into the yawning black hole, leading both burros.
Barbara and Anne stared at each other in amazement, and the latter
said: "Come carefully! Anything is better than freezing here."
Eleanor had already reached the ledge, when Polly came forth from the
cavern to shout out advices. The two older girls made the perilous
descent safely, and then guided their horses along the ledge until all
stood before the cave where the burros were waiting.
"Isn't this a miracle?" cried Polly, the moment all were safe and the
poor beasts were being led inside the refuge.
The girls laughed and cried hysterically when they saw the haven, but
the animals seemed uneasy, and Noddy came up to Polly with fear
apparent in her expressive eyes.
"Noddy, are you frightened? Surely no wild beast can be in here, at
present?" queried Polly, looking around in the semi-gloom.
"Polly! What can it be?" shrieked Barbara, clinging to Anne in fear.
"Better get out again, Polly," suggested Eleanor, seeing the horses paw
the floor, and strain their eyes to see.
"Are we safe here, Polly dear?" asked Anne.
"Safer here than up there," returned Polly, and as she spoke a great
tree was flung down over the edge of the gorge just where ledge and
slope met.
"Now we can't crawl out if we wanted to--the tree obstructs the way,"
declared Polly, decidedly.
"But we must see what it is that disturbs the animals," advised Anne.
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