Part 35 (1/2)
”Because I-I'm afraid. Come now, aren't you?” she challenged.
”Well, I can't say I like all the mysterious happenings,” Cora admitted.
”And now that we know there is a cave near us-more than one perhaps-and that we don't know who-or what-may be in them, why, I can't say it is the most pleasant vacation we have experienced.”
”This bungalow gives me the creeps!” complained Hazel.
”Why not take ours?” suggested Walter. ”It's large enough for you to sleep in, and we'll take this one. Come on, what do you say?”
”No, not to-night anyhow,” decided Cora. ”We'll keep to our agreement and stay here. Mrs. Floyd will be here with us.”
”And not Mr. Floyd?” asked Belle.
”No, not until later. He has to go to some town meeting I believe, and will come in around midnight. But nothing has happened in the last few days-not even a noise.”
”I've heard noises,” confessed Belle.
”What sort?” Jack inquired.
”Oh, sort of rumbling, trembling noises, and they seemed to be away down under the ground. I heard one yesterday, when I came back to get my veil after the others had gone out. It scared me,” Belle added.
”I think the waterfall causes those rumbling noises,” said Walter.
”We'll have to investigate that to-morrow.”
The boys went to their own bungalow, and Mrs. Floyd came in to occupy the small temporary bedroom. Her husband would be in later, she explained, confirming Cora's information in that respect. The thunderstorm had cooled the rather oppressive air and there was a refres.h.i.+ng breeze blowing as the girls went up to their bedrooms.
Just who awakened first, it would be hard to say. Probably it was Belle, as she was the lightest sleeper. Cora heard her calling, and at the same time she was aware of another disturbance.
”Do you hear it?” asked Belle from her room.
”Yes,” Cora answered. At the same time she could hear Bess and Hazel getting up.
The whole bungalow seemed filled with a roaring, trembling noise, and there was a slight vibration of the building.
”What is it? Oh, what is it?” cried Belle, in hysterical tones.
”I don't know,” answered Cora. ”But I'm going to find out.”
”How?”
”By calling the boys. Mrs. Floyd, are you awake?” Cora demanded, going to the head of the stairs.
”Yes. That noise awoke me.”
”Is Mr. Floyd home?”
”Not yet.”