Bruin was quite dead, and as he was in prime
condition there was a feast of bear meat at the
following dinner. The white travelers found it
rather too strong for their palates, but the Indians
reveled in it.
It was shortly after noon the next day, when
Goosal, after remarking that a storm seemed
brewing, announced that they would be at the
entrance to the cavern in another hour.
"Good!" cried Professor Bumper. "At last
we are near the buried city."
"Don't be too sure," advised Mr. Damon,
"We may be disappointed. Though I hope not
for your sake, my dear Professor."
Goosal now took the lead, and the old Indian,
traveling on foot, for he said he could better look
for the old landmark that way than on the back
of a mule, walked slowly along a rough cliff.
"Here. somewhere, is the entrance to the cav-
ern," said the aged man. "It was many years
ago that I was here--many years. But it seems
as though yesterday. It is little changed."
Indeed little did change in that land of wonders.
Only nature caused what alterations there were.
The hand of man had long been absent.
Slowly Goosal walked along the rocky trail,
on one side a sheer rock, towering a hundred feet
or more toward the sky. On the other side a
deep gash leading to a great fertile valley below.
Suddenly the old man paused, and looked about
him as though uncertain. Then, more slowly
still, he put out his hand and pulled at some
bushes that grew on a ledge of the rock.
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