“I wouldn’t be surprised,” replied the Chief.

Finally the first flight of rickety wooden steps was reached, and the boys descended, one at a time.  Then came the “Fat man’s misery,” where the ceiling of the cave almost met the floor, leaving only a small opening.  There was much laughing as Fat squeezed his body through.  In the “Bridal Chamber” every fellow traced his initials on the white stone with his smoking candle.  Then came the “Auger Hole,” which is a round opening, not more than twenty inches in diameter and about fifteen feet long, through a solid wall of rock.  About the middle of the passage there is a sharp turn, and the remainder of the passage slopes down into the next room.  Each one stretched himself out at full length, taking hold of the leg of the man in front of him.  In this way they worked themselves through, like a great serpent.

A very peculiar sensation came to Willis, who was second in the line, as he worked himself along the dark passage.  “If the roof should cave in just a little, what a death!” He was busy with such thoughts when Chuck, who was just ahead of him, suddenly backed into him and whispered, “Look!” He looked ahead, and there, somewhere in the darkness he saw two small, yellow-green lights.  Willis clutched Chuck by the arm and whispered hoarsely, “It’s an animal!” Word was passed from one to the other as they emerged from the Auger Hole that there was a wild-cat in the Mud Room.

Mr. Allen always carried a gun on these trips, unknown to the fellows.  As he took in the situation he quietly drew the revolver from his pocket and took a few steps forward.  He began to think what the possible results of shooting might be.  He had often heard of mines caving in as the result of a loud report, and of the vibrations from shouts closing the entrance to caves.  It would be unwise to shoot, but perhaps more unwise to go away and leave the animal there.  Some unarmed party might fall upon it.  Many things were suggested, many possibilities talked over; but there seemed to be some objection to all.  The eyes seemed to go out now and then, and occasionally there was a sad, low whine that made the cold chills run up and down each fellow’s back.  Sleepy had made sure of his safety by returning through the Auger Hole.  Mr. Allen made no reply to their many inquiries—­he seemed to have lost his power of speech.  He stood with muscles taut and gun ready.  He despised indecision, yet—­what should he do?  He thought of the mountain lion that had been killed on the carriage road to the Peak the spring before.  Could this be its mate?  He tried to think what the characteristics of a bob-cat were.  He wondered if perhaps it had already attacked some one; perhaps killed him, and even now was guarding the dead body—­perhaps not dead yet.  His arm twitched nervously.  He was losing his self-control.  There was absolute silence now except for the whine of the beast.  Did a lion whine?  He could not think.