But the tone silenced Barbara, who had food for thought thereafter.
Meanwhile Polly and Eleanor had crawled into the aperture, and by dint
of squirming and twisting through the passage, found that only the
section nearest the cave was of soft debris. It gradually widened as
they advanced and Polly distinctly felt a current of cold air blowing
in her face.
After creeping along for some distance without finding an outlet,
Eleanor pulled on Polly's foot to attract her attention.
"Let's go back, Poll. No use hunting down in the bowels of Grizzly
Slide."
"Nolla, the smoke of the torch blows harder than at first, and there is
enough air to waft it backwards, so there will be an opening at the
end, I am sure. That is what I must know for certain."
"All right, lead on! I'll be with you at the death!"
Polly chuckled at Eleanor's loyalty and crept on.
Finally Eleanor rugged again at her feet and shouted: "Hey, Polly!
Aren't we most through to China? Let me know the moment you get the
first peep at a pig-tail, as I have to brush the cobwebs from my
Chinese!"
Polly laughed at the girl who made merry of a journey that would have
staggered an older person. Finally, however, the tunnel widened so that
both girls could advance comfortably and then, suddenly, the flame of
the torch and the smoke ceased to blow into their faces, for they had
come out into an open space.
"We're here!" laughed Polly, trying to stand up and giving her head a
smart rap against the overhanging rock.
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