5

THE CAVE

“I think she’s in trouble,” Marc said, sensing Bluedog was frightened, but not telling Eddie and Hermie how he knew. They would think he was crazy if he told them that he and Bluedog were like twins. How many people can read dog thoughts? But Marc knew his feelings were true. Bluedog was trying to tell him she needed him.

He got more and more scared, but all he knew to do was to keep looking and calling out. They searched the area methodically, circling farther and farther away from the bikes, fighting the wet, bushy undergrowth. When their route met the road on one side, they concentrated on the other. They would soon run out of space on that side, too, since there was a drop-off to the river below.

“We could sure use a machete,” Hermie said, as he pushed aside verbena branches, shaking water droplets, sweetly perfumed, onto the three of them.

“We’re going to be lucky if we don’t get covered with poison ivy.” Eddie jerked limbs from in front of his face, letting them slap back at Marc, who caught them, ignoring Eddie’s mood. His own anger had dissolved into worry. Bluedog was his best friend, and he had to find her.

A hackberry branch slapped his cheek. He barely noticed the stinging. I’m here, I’m here, Bluedog kept saying to him. Where? Marc felt like shouting, but Hermie and Eddie would freak out if he went around talking to Blue when she wasn’t there.

Finally the sound of barking reached his ears, but it seemed to come from far off. It had a funny, hollow sound as if she were in a tunnel. “Bluedog?” Marc shouted.

“Over this way!” Hermie heard it, too.

A huge outcropping of rocks bordered the edge of the drop-off to the river. They made their way in that direction, calling and looking in all possible hiding spaces. Maybe she was tangled in blackberry vines. But no Bluedog.

Marc held to the rocks and looked over the bluff, half expecting to see Bluedog standing on a ledge looking up at him. Could she have fallen off? She wasn’t that dumb, but if she was excited about the rabbit she might have been careless.

“Bluedog?” Marc called out again.

“Down here, Marc, down here! Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat! Come and look!” Hermie shouted.

“It’s—it’s a cave,” Marc said. It had to be. They could hear Bluedog right under them, but they couldn’t see her.

They searched the rocks until they found the small hole. All around it the dirt was loose, as if Bluedog had tried to hold on to the edge.

“Holy Cow! I knew we’d find something good this summer.” Eddie grinned ear to ear, taking all the credit, as if he’d stumbled into the cave himself.

“Jeez, this is something you only read about in books,” said Hermie, peering into the darkness.

“Listen, a guy found Mammoth Cave in Kentucky when he chased a rabbit into a hole. It’s not impossible.” Marc lay down beside Hermie and tried to see inside, but it was pitch black past the opening. He heard little whining noises. “It’s okay, Bluedog, it’s okay,” he said into the darkness.

“You think this is that old cave people talk about all the time?” asked Eddie. “If it is, we may be famous for finding it.”

“Bluedog found it,” Marc reminded Eddie.

“There are probably caves throughout these bluffs that no one has found.” Hermie wasn’t an explorer, but he read about everything.

There was an old story around town that a large cave existed in the area. But no one could remember where it was. Mr. Daniels said he remembered searching for it when he was a boy. His dad had talked about it.

Marc laughed, partly out of relief for finding Blue, partly out of excitement. “She must have chased that rabbit right in there, like Alice down the rabbit hole. Bluedog, are you all right?” He lay on his stomach and shouted through the hole, almost hidden with long grasses and a patch of honeysuckle.

Bluedog barked an answer. It was obvious that she was a long way down. “Oooof, oooof,” her voice echoed.

“Dumb dog,” Eddie said, but this time with some pride in his voice.

“How are we going to get her out?” Hermie asked.

“How are we going to get ourselves in? That’s the question. Boy howdy, a cave to explore.” Marc’s mind raced. It would take ropes. He wondered if his dad would help.

“You sure we want to go in? Let’s get Bluedog out and forget we ever found this place.” Hermie had never pretended to be an explorer. He preferred to get his excitement from reading about someone else’s adventures.

“Not go in? You must be kidding. Of course we’re going in.” Eddie was ready to slide right down the hole like Bluedog had done.

“It could be something incredible, like Crystal Cave.” Marc raised up and looked around. “I wonder who owns this land.”

“It’s close to the river, so it’s probably part of the state park.” Hermie leaned on a rock, waiting for Marc to make a decision about Bluedog.

“I guess it doesn’t matter who owns this land right now. I know Bluedog doesn’t care.” Marc lay back down and spoke into the hole. “Stay, Blue. Stay right there. We’ll be back in a little while. We have to go get some rope.”

“Think she’ll stay?” Eddie asked, as they headed for their bikes.

“Sure. Where would she go? She can’t see any better than we could down there with no light. I wonder if we can get her out.” Marc turned the problem over and over in his mind. He’d have to go in and help her. No way could they toss a rope down there and say, “Bluedog, climb up this rope.” He almost smiled at the idea.

“Would your dad—?”

“I don’t know.” Marc stopped Hermie’s question. He had no idea if his father would help them. Marc could never predict his moods lately, and he felt uncomfortable around him. Surely his dad wouldn’t want Bluedog to be left there, but since he didn’t seem to care about Marc anymore, maybe he wouldn’t care about Bluedog either. “Let’s go get my ropes. I think this is up to us.” Marc decided not to approach his dad. They’d get Bluedog out themselves.

They scrambled to their feet, and Marc looked back to make sure he could recognize the spot again. It was totally hidden and, except for a couple of bent-over branches, looked undisturbed. It was far enough from the path to the river that no one would happen by and find it or hear Bluedog if she barked again. She didn’t bark often, just when she was awfully excited or wanted something. Marc knew she wanted out of that hole really badly, but it was going to take some time. He sure hoped he and Hermie and Eddie could manage it alone.