“Oh, a cave! Where is it?” asked Russ, who was lying down in the shade, having helped put up the swing. “Could we go and see it?” he inquired. “After a while, maybe,” promised Farmer Joel. Rose helped her mother spread out the good things to eat. They found some flat stumps which answered very well for tables, and after Mun Bun and Margy and Laddie and Violet had swung as much as was good for them, and when they had raced about, playing tag, hide-and-seek, and other games, the children were tired enough to sit down in the shade. “We’ll eat lunch after you rest a bit,” said Mrs. Bunker. “Ah, now comes the best part of the day!” murmured Russ. “Silly! Always thinking of something to eat!” chided Rose. But she smiled pleasantly at her brother. How good the things eaten in the picnic woods tasted! Even plain bread and butter was almost as fine as cake, Laddie said. He was trying to think of a riddle about this—a riddle in which he was to ask when it was that bread and butter was as good as cake—when suddenly there came a low rumbling sound. “What’s that?” asked Margy. “Thunder, I think,” was the answer. Mun Bun, who was playing a little distance away, came running in. “I saw it lighten,” he whispered. “Yes, I think we’re in for a storm,” said Farmer Joel. The thunder became louder. The sun was hidden behind dark clouds. The picnic things were picked up. Mrs. Bunker was glad lunch was over. Then down pelted the rain. “Come on!” cried Farmer Joel. “We’ll take shelter in the cave!” He led the way along a path through the woods. The others followed, Mr. Bunker carrying Mun Bun and Adam North catching up Margy. The trees were so thick overhead that not much rain fell on the picnic party. “Here’s the cave!” cried Farmer Joel, pushing aside some bushes. He showed a dark opening among some rocks. In they rushed, for it was a welcome shelter from the storm. “Oh, but how cool it is in here,” said Rose. “Yes,” answered Farmer Joel. “This is an ice cave.” “An ice cave!” exclaimed Russ. “Is there really ice in here in the middle of summer?” Before Farmer Joel could answer a terrific crash of thunder seemed to shake the whole earth. CHAPTER XVIII A BIG SPLASH There was silence in the dark cave of ice following that big noise from the sky. Then came a steady roar of sound. “It’s raining cats and dogs outside,” said Farmer Joel. “We got here just in time.” Suddenly Margy began to whimper and then she began to cry. “What’s the matter, my dear?” asked her mother. “I—I don’t like it in here!” sobbed Margy. “I—I don’t, either, an’—an’ I’m goin’ to cry, too!” snuffled Mun Bun. “Oh, come, children!” exclaimed Mr. Bunker, with a laugh. “Don’t be babies! Why don’t you like it in here?” “I—I’m ’fraid maybe we’ll be struck by lightning,” whimpered Margy. “Oh, nonsense!” replied her mother.