"I'm all to the good on the proposition," stated Lanky. "Some cave, believe me! With a low ceiling, too. No stalactites growing downward here, you notice." "No. But clap your eyes on all those big bats hanging head downward from rough places in the roof. Must be hundreds, almost thousands of the ugly, winged, ratlike creatures. There, some are starting to whirl around now, seeing our light." More and more of the bats swung in circles, both big and small. Lanky struck at them with what remained of his bunch of torches, and several times let out a screech of triumph when he made a good hit. By degrees the bats vacated their sleeping chamber, and when quiet had been restored the boys looked for a promising place to lie down and sleep. "We can take a closer survey after we wake up," suggested Frank, with a reason he did not care to explain just then. But as Lanky was dead for sleep and tired, he failed to ask questions, as was his custom. They were not disturbed. If any of those fierce-looking winged denizens returned to their roost, neither of the boys knew of the fact, so deep was their slumber for some hours. Frank felt confident that there was some opening not far away from this cave, because those hosts of bats could never have come from such a long distance as that crevice. When Lanky opened his eyes he saw that Frank had lighted a torch and was coming toward him, bearing one in his hand. "What time do you think it can be, Frank?" was his first question, and a very natural one too, since Frank carried a small wrist watch. "About sunrise, I'd judge," Lanky was told. He noticed Frank looked unusually smiling, upon which he pointed a finger at him, and demanded: "Here, what's all that grinning about? You've got something up your sleeve, Frank Allen, which you're meaning to tell me right off the handle. Go to it, now." "For one thing," said the other impressively, "I noticed something before we lay down to sleep; but didn't mention it, because we were both tuckered out and needed rest most of all. Scramble up off your downy couch and come along with me." Lanky trotted at his heels, all on edge, as he told himself. "Is it another exit to this bunch of caves?" he asked. "No," came the answer. "But I'm dead certain there must be one not a great way off. Those bats in here told me as much. Then, here's the other convincing reason. Look down, and not up, Lanky." "Wow! A heap of ashes, eh? Shows that we're not the only chaps who've been wandering around for hours and hours in these passages." "Notice what a lot of wood ashes there are," pursued Frank. "That would mean a fire has been burned many times. Long ago, too, I figure, though never a gust of wind disturbs the heap back here." Lanky grew more deeply absorbed in the way Frank was putting things.