"'We're here!' For goodness' sake, tell me where?" cried Eleanor,
thrusting her torch ahead so that it was almost snuffed out against
Polly's shoes.
"Gracious me, Nolla! Don't burn my soles!" cried Polly, managing to
stand upright and hold aloft her torch.
"Ha, that's good! Don't burn your soul!" teased Eleanor.
But the moment the girls saw where they were, not another word was
uttered, for they found themselves in a vault-like cave somewhat
smaller than the entrance cave, but having no "fingers" or outside
opening. The dome and sides were rocky, but everywhere, embedded in the
rock, myriad points of light reflected as the flare of the torch lit up
the place uncertainly.
Eleanor thrust up her torch also, and both girls pivoted around,
forgetting about wild beasts and the errand they came upon. After
blinking at the bright yellow gleams for a time, Polly turned and
stared at Eleanor.
"What is it?"
"I'm sure I don't know, Nolla. It looks like copper."
"Polly! If it's copper, then we're rich!"
Both girls rushed over to examine the metallic gleams at close range,
and Polly frowned as a thought entered her mind. Eleanor turned and
looked about to be sure no one could hear, and then whispered:
"Polly, it looks like gold! Can it be real GOLD!"
The girls stared at each other and then burst out into a simultaneous
laugh. But it was excitement, not mirth, that occasioned it.
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