The Hilltop Boys Part 26

In a few moments there was an unmistakable shout heard, distant, it was true, but still a well-defined shout.

"That's Percival!" cried young Sawyer.

"h.e.l.lo!" shouted Harry. "Keep her up, boys! Give a good shout all of us.

Now then!"

All of the boys shouted at the same time, and then kept quiet to hear the answering shout.

"All right, we are coming!" they heard Jack shout in a clear, shrill tone, which had great carrying power.

"Where are they?" asked Billy. "That does not sound from the cave.

h.e.l.lo! Are you in the cave, you fellows?"

"No, we found a way out," came the answer in a few moments.

"Bully!" shouted Billy. "That lets you out, boys. We don't need to dig any more."

The boys in the gully scrambled out of it in great glee, and then set up a shout which was soon answered at a less distance than before, and shortly after that they heard Jack's voice from somewhere above them saying:

"h.e.l.lo, you fellows! We are up here. How are we going to get down?"

The boys all looked up and saw Jack Sheldon and d.i.c.k Percival standing on top of the ledge, at the foot of which was the entrance of the cave.

"How did you get there?" asked Blaisdell. "We were trying to dig you out, but we are glad we don't have to."

"Dig us out?" asked Percival in astonishment.

"Yes. When the boulder fell it sent down a lot of stones and earth, and completely blocked the entrance of the cave."

"Then it was fortunate we found the other entrance," said Jack.

"Another one?"

"Yes, in the woods over yonder, a wild place, wilder than this. We'll tell you all about it when we get down."

Jack and Percival now quickly joined their companions, who were eager to learn of their experiences in the cave.

The boys were greatly interested in hearing of what Jack and d.i.c.k had discovered in the cave, and speculated about the presence of the burglars' tools, some of them wondering if the bank robbers made the cave their headquarters, and why the tools had not been taken away before.

"Well, if the place is closed I shall have a picture of it at any rate,"

declared Billy.

"Which cannot amount to much," laughed Harry, "seeing that your camera has neither shutter nor lens."

"Never you mind," said Billy. "That camera of mine is going to surprise you boys."

CHAPTER XX

WHAT BILLY'S CAMERA REVEALED

As it was now getting well along in the afternoon, and as the way back was a difficult one, Percival and Jack decided that they would better return without making any further explorations.

"We have found out a lot that we did not know, anyhow," said Percival, "and we can come here again."

"Certainly I never knew about that cave," remarked Arthur, "although I have been here two years."

"That is not so much to be wondered at," declared Harry. "The place is hard to get at and out of the way, and I don't believe you could get many of the boys to come here even if you told them there was a cave to be seen. I don't think I would care to come again."

"I would," said Sawyer, "but it is not an easy job all the same."

"Bother the thing!" sputtered Billy Manners. "It is nothing but a hiding place for burglars and thieves. Pity you did not find some more of the stolen property, Jack."

"It has probably been taken out. They could afford to leave their tools behind, but they would take everything else."

The boys talked about the place as they made their way back to the Academy, which they reached shortly before supper, and all agreed that it was rather too great an undertaking to visit the cave again, all being tired and glad to rest after their tramp.

"I want to see how my picture turned out, Jack," said Billy Manners after supper when it was quite dark. "Then I want to get the laugh on those fellows that said my makeshift was no good. I know it is."

"All right, Billy," laughed Jack. "I can fix you up a dark room in the cottage. I have developers and all that, though I suppose you have also."

"Yes, I have everything. Have you a camera, Jack? You never said anything about it."

"Well, I have not had much occasion to say anything or to use it, but I have one. Come ahead, get your plate and we will develop it."

On the way to the cottage they met d.i.c.k Percival, who was greatly interested when he heard what they were going to do and said:

"I'd like to see you develop that plate, for, to tell the truth, I don't have much faith in these photographic freaks. Do you think there will be anything on the plate, Jack?"

"Yes," said Jack shortly.

"All right, then. If you have faith in it I have nothing to say."

Reaching the room in the cottage, Jack locked the door to keep out all possible intruders, got out his ruby lamp and developers, and set to work.

Billy had faith in his pinhole camera, because it was his. Jack was certain that he would get a picture, because he knew about such things, and d.i.c.k was interested because Jack was, and therefore the three watched the process of developing with considerable interest.

Jack had running water and all the facilities for doing good work, and it was also apparent that he had done a good deal of it.

"By Jove! you are a wonder, Jack," laughed Percival. "I am all the time finding out new things that you can do. If we were not with you so much we would not know how much you can do. You never tell about it."

"What is the use?" said Jack quietly. "If I can accomplish anything it is bound to be found out some time."

"Of course, but most fellows would tell you ahead that they were going to do so and so and make a lot of talk about it. You just go ahead and do it without making any fuss."