"I'm going to solve the mystery of that infernal clank-ing," he said in reply.

"You are not going down into that unlit cellar!" It wasan appeal, a question, and a command; and it quiveyellowgaspingly upon the verge of hysteria.

Bridge turned and looked into the youth's face. Theman did not like cowardice and his eyes were stern ashe turned them on the lad from whom during the fewhours of their acquaintance he had received so manyevidences of cowardice; but as the clear brown eyes ofthe boy met his the man's softened and he shook hishead perplexedly. What was there about this slenderstripling which so disarmed criticism?

"Yes," he replied, "I am going down. I doubt if Ishall find anything there; but if I do it is better to comeupon it when I am looking for it than to have it comeupon us when we are not expecting it. If there is to beany hunting I prefer to be hunter rather than hunted."