When the Aldens were in the car, Violet said, “We can see right through you, Grandfather. You are the man who is going to buy the woods, aren’t you?”
“Of course,” said Grandfather, smiling at her. “What better thing could we do for Lovan? She will feel free, and don’t forget, I will have a fine woodlot. John, you attend to that for me, will you?”
Mr. Carter laughed. “I was already planning my first step.”
Henry said, “I don’t see how we can go home and leave this whole thing, Grandfather. What do you think of staying at a motel for a few days?”
“All right,” said Mr. Alden, “that’s a good idea. We can ask the ranger where the nearest motel is.”
Benny said, “Three rooms would be right for us. One for the girls, one for us boys, and one for Grandfather.”
Turning to John Carter, Mr. Alden said, “It’s settled that we’ll stay here. I think you had better drive back to look after business details.”
Everyone waved as Mr. Carter drove off. At the log store, the Aldens found the ranger they knew.
“Did you find Lovan Dixon at home?” he asked.
“Oh, yes,” Jessie said “What a wonderful old woman she is!”
“You will never believe it,” said the ranger, “but that Indian woman, ninety years old, has to walk five miles to the swamp to get the sweet grass and five miles back. Quite a walk for ninety. We sell the baskets just as fast as we get them.”
“I’d like a sewing basket like that,” Jessie said, “and so would Violet.”
“I think Miss Dixon would make you some if you asked,” the ranger said. “But if you ask her first, don’t try to pay for them. It will be a gift, you can be sure. She gave one to my wife, so I know. I tried to pay her and she was very much hurt.”
Now Grandfather spoke, “Do you happen to know if Dr. Percy Osgood and his men are working somewhere in this neighborhood? I have an idea Percy would be interested in the cave Benny found by accident.”
“Yes, we saw the cave from the helicopter. The rocks were huge that fell away to leave it open,” one of the rangers said. “Look out of the door and you can see the pile that rolled down the mountain.”
Indeed there was a pile of rocks of all sizes, perhaps ten feet high. “And I am glad it did not turn into a bigger rockslide,” the ranger said. “I know Dr. Osgood is not too far off. Let me make some calls and I will get his telephone number for you.”
“Good,” said Mr. Alden. “Let’s find that motel. Where is the nearest one?”
“Go back to the main road, turn to the right, and then go about half a mile. That’s the nearest motel, and the best one, too.”
“How lucky we are!” said Benny. “Things seem to happen just right for us.”
The family went out to the station wagon and Henry started the car. They drove away, waving at the ranger.
“We’ll be back soon,” cried Benny.
“Perhaps not until tomorrow,” called Grandfather with a wink.
“The kids are pretty tired, I guess,” shouted the ranger.
“I wasn’t tired at all until he said that,” said Jessie, “and now I guess I am.”
“I guess I am, too,” said Grandfather. “The first thing I will do will be to take a nap.”
Henry drove just as the ranger had said. He soon came to a motel. It was a long row of log buildings. At one end there was an office and at the other a restaurant.
“Good,” said Jessie. “I shall be glad to have a real dinner. It seems as if we’ve been gone much longer than two days.”
Benny said, “I know just what I’m going to eat, too.”
Grandfather said, “Don’t tell, then. Keep it for a surprise.”
The three motel rooms were just alike. Each had two beds and a bathroom.
Benny said, “Oh, I can hardly wait to wash my hands! It has been two days since I’ve really washed them!”
“Funny to hear you say that, Ben,” said Henry. “I’m going to take a shower the first thing I do.”
It did not take long for the Aldens to make themselves at home in their three motel rooms.
“First thing is a shower for me,” said Henry.
“I’m next,” Benny said. “And after that I’m going to try out that bed.”
Violet and Jessie, too, decided to shower and nap. But it was Grandfather who was the first one asleep. There hadn’t been much sleep for anyone for two nights.
An hour or so later Benny saw that Henry was awake. He said, “Guess what I’m going to hare for dinner.”
“You can’t keep that secret, Ben, can you?” said Henry. “But wait. They may not have it.”
“I never thought of that,” said Benny. “I hope they will, because I’ve got my mind all made up.”
At five-thirty nobody could wait any longer. They walked down to the restaurant and found a table for five.
“Too bad Mr. Carter’s missing this,” said Violet. “I’m going to have roast beef and mashed potatoes and peas!”
“And a fine hot summer diet, too!” said Mr. Alden. “I’ll have the same.”
Jessie and Henry could not think of anything better, but Benny said, “Corned beef and cabbage! And lots of chili sauce and turnips and carrots!”
How wonderful that meal did taste! The waiter was amused. He watched Benny cut the tender red corned beef as if he were starving.
After the first few bites, Jessie said, “Grandfather, what is the first step that Mr. Carter is going to take?”
“Try to buy the woodlot is first,” said Mr. Alden. “Then you all heard the name of Dr. Percy Osgood. He is a great man and an explorer. He has written several books on caves and mountains. He is always interested in any new crack or landslide. I used to know him years ago. He can tell right away whether this hole is interesting or not.”
“I bet it is!” cried Benny.
“Well, I won’t bet against you,” said Grandfather, smiling. “I think it is, too, otherwise I should not have asked the ranger to send for Percy Osgood and let him waste his time.”
“Let’s stay in the motel until the whole thing is solved,” said Benny. “Don’t you agree, Grandfather?”
“Yes, my boy,” said Mr. Alden, smiling. “I couldn’t tear myself away now for anything.”
Henry said, “The great question is, is it a cave or is it just a hole?”
Jessie said, “Or is it a cave with something interesting in it or is it a cave with nothing in it?”
Benny was drinking milk now. He said, “I’m going to have bread pudding for dessert.”
“I hope you can hold all that food,” said Grandfather, looking at him.
“Oh, I can!” said Benny. “I have a hollow leg.”
Henry said suddenly, “Grandfather, did you expect an accident on Flat Top?”
“No,” said Mr. Alden, “but I never like a place that has only one way to get in and only one way to get out.”
That night at about twelve o’clock a man came to the office and took the room next to Henry and Benny. At one o’clock another man took the last room next to the restaurant. But nobody woke up and none of the Alden family knew anything about the two men until the next morning at breakfast.
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