Part 17 (1/2)
The next second, the earth caved in around her and she went down with it!
CHAPTER XIII.
The Attic's Secret
”HELP! I'll be smothered!” George called out. The terrified girl was sinking lower and lower into the hole.
Thoroughly alarmed, Nancy and Bess hurried toward George, but stopped a short distance away.
”Careful, Bess,” Nancy warned. ”We can't help George if we fall in too. Some of this other ground may be treacherous.”
The two girls tested the ground before taking each step. Meanwhile, George kept giving urgent cries, for she had now sunk up to her waist in the earth. The more she struggled, the deeper she went!
”Try to keep calm, George!” Nancy cried. ”We'll get you out in a minute!” She turned to her other friend. ”Bess,” she directed, ”lie down on the ground behind me.”
While Bess did this, Nancy quickly stretched out full length on her stomach at the edge of the hole. She reached out toward George.
”Grab my ankles, Bess!” she called again. ”When I count three, start wriggling backward.”
Taking hold of George's wrists, Nancy said, ”Lock your hands over my wrists. Ready! One, two, three!”
Instantly, Bess began squirming backward across the ground. Nancy did the same. But their efforts accomplished little to free George.
”Pull a little harder, Bess,” Nancy called.
Bess glanced backward. Almost directly behind her was a small tree. She hooked one ankle around it to give her better leverage. When she and Nancy tried a second time, they were able to heave George a foot out of the pit!
The girls rested briefly, then repeated the operation. A few more tugs and George was free, sprawled on the ground, a safe distance beyond the edge of the hole. A moment later the earth on both sides of the hole fell away.
”Good night!” she shuddered. ”You were just in time. What a close call!”
”What could have caused the cave-in?” Bess asked.
”I think there may have been a sluiceway here long ago,” Nancy declared. ”Probably at this point there was a water wheel and a little dam. It has partially filled in, but the water keeps the ground above it soft.”
Nancy went on thoughtfully, ”Since n.o.body came out of the house when you cried for help, George, it must be deserted. Let's find out!”
The others nodded and the three advanced cautiously toward the one-story dwelling. When they reached it, Nancy knocked on the door. There was no reply and finally she turned the k.n.o.b. To her surprise, it opened easily and the young sleuth led the way inside. All was quiet.
”I doubt that anyone is here,” said George, as the friends wandered from room to room, noting that not one had a piece of furniture.
Finally they reached the kitchen, which did not even contain a stove. Nancy pointed out a trap door leading to an attic. They were about to turn away when suddenly they heard a thud overhead.
Nancy put her fingers to her lips, and the girls stood in complete silence. The sound was not repeated as they gazed steadily above them.
Finally George whispered, ”I guess it was nothing.”
Nancy shook her head and again put a finger to her lips. Pointing upward, she indicated that she was going to investigate the attic.