Part 24 (1/2)
”Was it a ghost?” asked Walter.
”It wasn't anything,” Cora hastened to say. ”Look, see that curl of smoke. Isn't it just like a great big ostrich plume? What a hat it would require to carry it! A giant's hat.”
”Lady giant you mean,” said Walter. ”But look here, Cora, you are keeping something from me.”
”Not at all.”
Her manner was light, but Walter was a good guesser.
”Yes, you are!” he insisted. ”Something did happen, Cora. Go on, tell a fellow.”
”Nothing really happened, Walter.”
”Then you heard something.”
”How did you know?” she asked with a start.
”I thought I'd catch you. Come now. Own up. You didn't have that toy telephone strung to our bungalow just on general principles. Did you hear something, Cora?”
She looked around to make sure none of the others were listening. Then she told Walter of the queer noise, enjoining him to secrecy, however.
”So that's what it was,” he said. ”I thought it was thunder myself, but if you heard it in your bungalow it couldn't have been.”
”And it was in our bungalow,” Cora said. ”Seemingly away down in the cellar, or sub-cellar, if they have such a thing.”
”Not as deep as that, I guess, Cora. But it was a queer rumbly noise, though how I could hear it, when it was under your bungalow I can't imagine.”
”Unless it came from the waterfall.”
”How could it come from the waterfall?” Walter asked.
”I don't know,” said Cora. ”But there might be some sort of hollow rock-blowing stones I believe they are called-and when air is forced into the hollow, by the action of the water, it might give a roaring sound, and vibrate the earth.”
Walter considered a moment.
”It's worth looking into,” he said. ”I won't say anything, but the first chance I get I'll have a peep at the fall. I think I can get behind the water curtain.”
”Oh, Walter! don't take any risks.”
”I won't, Cora. But come on. The others will wonder what we find to talk about and look at here. Not that I wouldn't want to stay talking a great deal longer, but, well--”
”I understand,” and she smiled.
”We're going berrying,” cried Bess, as Walter and Cora came up to join the others. ”That is, unless you two want to stand there on the edge of 'Lovers' Leap' and think sad thoughts.”
”Is that place called Lovers' Leap?” asked Cora.
”Well, it might be if any lovers ever jumped off there. Do you want to go berrying?”
”Surely,” said Cora, and Walter nodded a.s.sent.