"Arthur, Robert - The Three Investigators 010 - The Mystery of the Moaning Cave" - читать интересную книгу автора (Arthur Robert)

Pete and Bob hurried to where Jupe was kneeling. There were two large, dark marks on the stone floor. Big, egg-shaped footprints that reflected the bright beam of the flashlight.

"Whatа.а.а." Bob hesitated. "What is it, Jupe?"

"Something wet," Jupiter said. "Water probably, but it might be something else."

"Ugh," Pete gulped.

Jupiter shone his light all across the floor. There were no other marks. The ceiling, too, was completely dry.

"There's nothing else wet around," he said. "Pete is right. Something was standing here. Something that left wet marks."

"Marks that big? They must be two or three feet long!" Bob said.

"At least," Jupiter said solemnly. "Big and wet and shiny. Sort of a----"

"Monster!" Pete finished the sentence for Jupiter.

"The Old One!" Bob exclaimed.

The three boys looked at each other nervously. They did not believe in unknown monsters, but what could have made such big, wet marks?

Then a powerful glare of light fixed the three boys like moths against the wall. A harsh voice called from behind the dazzling light.

"What's goin' on here?"

A figure came slowly towards them--a bent, twisted figure with a wild white beard, carrying an enormous-looking rifle.





6

A Dangerous Passage



THE old man pointed towards the dark tunnels that led from the cavern.

"Them passages goes a far piece inside," he said in a high, cracked voice. "You young-uns could get lost mighty easy in there."

The old man's red-rimmed eyes gleamed wickedly.

"Got to be mightly careful here," he croaked. "Got to know the country, yessir. Seventy years I lived out here, never lost my scalp. No sir. Got to think ahead, that's the story. Know the country and fight the enemy."

"Scalp?" Pete stared. "You fought Indians? Here?"

The old man waved his ancient rifle. "Injuns! I'll tell you about Injuns, I will. Lived with Injuns all my life. Fine people but hard enemies, yessir. Almost lost my scalp twice. The country and Apache country. Sneaky, the Apaches. But I got away."