The girls were delighted at the spot and announced they would look no farther for a picnic place. Dave and Marshmallow locked the car and carried the heavy lunch hampers to the tables. Marshmallow began to unpack the dishes but Doris and Kitty stopped him.
“You don’t want to eat yet,” they protested.
“Why not?” he drawled goodnaturedly. “That’s what we came for, wasn’t it?”
“But we want to explore first,” Doris declared. “There’s lovely scenery, and then we must work up an appetite for luncheon.”
“Mine is already working,” Marshmallow grinned.
However, he placed the dishes back in the hamper and started out with the others, managing to pair himself with Kitty, which was not difficult, as Doris and Dave were absorbed in each other.
A steep path led down to the lake, and this the party decided to explore. Slipping and sliding, they finally reached the bottom of the decline without mishap. There, finding a boat tied to an old log, they decided it would be good sport to go for a ride on the lake.
“There aren’t any oars,” Doris observed in disappointment.
“We don’t need ’em,” Marshmallow declared, picking up a board. “This will do almost as well.”
By hunting around they found another board nearly the same size, and with Dave and Marshmallow each wielding one of the improvised oars, they courageously set out in the little boat. The paddles were not very effective and the young men worked like Trojans to propel the craft a few yards. For the most part they were content to drift with the wind.
Tiring of this sport, they brought the boat to shore and left it tied to the log.
The party was about to climb the hill again when Doris noticed a path leading around the lake. She proposed that they continue their trip of exploration, and the suggestion was greeted with enthusiasm.
The four were forced to proceed single file, for the path was narrow and branches of low-hanging trees formed an archway above their heads. Presently, Doris who was in the lead stopped short and gave an exclamation of surprise.
“What’s the matter?” Kitty demanded.
“We’ve come to the jumping off place! And just see what I’ve discovered. A cave!”
Kitty thought her chum was only joking, but as she came up behind her she saw for herself the tiny opening in the side of the cliff. Dave and Marshmallow crowded up, the latter becoming greatly excited.
“Jumping snakes!” he exclaimed. “I never heard about this cave. I wonder what’s inside?”
He thrust his head in at the opening but could see nothing, as his eyes were unaccustomed to the darkness.
“If we only had a flashlight!” he declared. “It would be fun to explore it.”
“Maybe it’s inhabited by bears,” Kitty suggested nervously.
“Never heard of any around here,” Marshmallow insisted. “Say, we can’t go home without seeing the inside.”
“I think there’s a flashlight in the car,” Dave told him. “I’ll see.”
The girls and Marshmallow waited impatiently for Dave to return. Presently, he came back with the flashlight.
“Wouldn’t it be grand if we’d find buried treasure?” Doris laughed. “I could use some money all right, and I don’t know of any more delightful way to obtain it.”
She did not really hope that any such adventure would befall them, but Kitty’s eyes grew round at the mere mention of treasure.
“Who’s to go first?” Doris asked.
“Let me,” Marshmallow begged.
Dave handed him the flashlight, and after an instant’s hesitation he again thrust his head and shoulders through the opening. It was only a small aperture, and Marshmallow grunted as he squeezed through.
“You’re too fat,” Doris called after him. “You may never get out again.”
There was no response from the inside of the cave and Kitty, suddenly becoming alarmed, called anxiously:
“Marshmallow! Marshmallow!”
“I’m right here,” came a muffled voice. “Come on in.”
“What do you see?” Doris demanded.
“It looks like a cracking big cave.”
Somewhat reassured, the girls wormed their way through the opening and Dave brought up the rear. It was pitch dark inside, but the beam of Marshmallow’s light furnished a faint illumination.
“Follow me,” Marshmallow commanded.
He led the way deeper into the cavern. The cave consisted of two chambers, and as the four friends entered the second room Marshmallow flashed his light over the ceiling. They saw strange formations resembling icicles hanging from above.
“Stalactites!” Doris exclaimed.
“Aren’t they odd?” Kitty cried. “What causes them anyway?”
“I’ve read that stalactites are caused by the dripping of water which contains carbonate of lime,” Doris explained.
“Folks, I guess we’ve seen all the sights,” Marshmallow, who had gone on a short way ahead, announced. “It isn’t as large a cave as I thought.”
“No buried treasure, either,” Kitty murmured in disappointment. “Still, the stalactites are interesting. Imagine living this close and not knowing anything about them.”
It was cold inside the cave and, being without wraps, the girls began to shiver.
“Let’s go,” Doris proposed.
Once outside the warm sunshine seemed more welcome than before. During the excursion into the cave, Dave had appeared less interested than the others, and now, observing the smile on his face, Doris’s suspicions were aroused.
“Dave Chamberlin!” she accused. “You knew about that cave all the time!”
“Well, maybe I had heard about it,” he grinned, “but I didn’t want to spoil the fun.”
“We were all so excited and silly,” Doris laughed. “There’s a path leading right up here! And we didn’t think a thing about it. Of course other folks know about the cave.”
“Oh, well, it was fun anyway,” Marshmallow said. “So much exertion made me hungry, though. When do we eat?”
“You would ask that,” Doris bantered. “I’m willing if the rest of you are.”
The climb back up the steep hill was not easy, and by the time Doris and Kitty reached the top they were nearly out of breath. While they were resting under a shade tree, Dave and Marshmallow brought water from the spring and started a fire.
“What are we cooking?” Doris asked with interest.
“Steak,” Marshmallow told her, smacking his lips. “And boy, do I know how to cook it!”
“Your mother must have been giving you lessons,” Doris smiled.
“Say, don’t you think I ever went camping? I can cook a lot of things.” He opened a hamper and began to lift out various covered dishes. “Just look at all this stuff Ma sent.”
While the steak was sizzling over the red hot fire, the girls spread the table cloth and unwrapped the various packages. They were appalled at the outlay of food. “Enough for an army!” Doris groaned. Always an excellent cook, Mrs. Mallow had quite outdone herself on this occasion. Salads crisp and inviting in nests of lettuce, pie, gigantic cream puffs with Marshmallow’s favorite chocolate filling, baked beans, deviled eggs and lemonade