Danny Dunn and the Fossil Cave by Raymond Abrashkin & Raymond Abrashkin

Author:Raymond Abrashkin & Raymond Abrashkin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, sci-fi, young adult, middle grade, adventure
Publisher: Wildside Press LLC
Published: 2016-11-22T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The Glittering Cave

Danny carefully laid a trail of thorium nitrate crystals so that he would be able to find the right path with his Geiger counter on the way back. As they were waiting, Dr. Tresselt tapped Professor Bullfinch on the arm.

“Euclid,” he said, “before we go on, I’d like to take a look at those reddish streaks Danny described, on the walls of this branch tunnel.”

The Professor looked doubtful. “Do you think it’s wise?”

“I’ll only go a little way in. As a matter of fact,” said Dr. Tresselt, “why don’t you come with me, and bring that C-ray? This might be a good time to try it. I have an idea about those streaks, and your device, if it works, might be helpful.”

They entered the branch tunnel, and when they had gone round the first sharp angle of the rock, Dr. Tresselt pulled out his hammer and a small chisel. Professor Bullfinch held the light up for him, and the geologist examined the wall carefully. Then he chipped out a few pieces of the red material.

“I think this may be clay,” he said. “Or perhaps mud, with a high percentage of iron oxides. It’s embedded in the limestone. What does that suggest to you?”

Joe, who was peering over the Professor’s shoulder, said, “Mud pies.”

The Professor snorted. “Not exactly. The river?”

“Just so,” Dr. Tresselt agreed. “It looks very much as though there had once been another stream running through here, carrying mud in with it. Or… He paused, tapping his hammer pensively against the wall.

“Or?”

“I wonder if mud could have been washed in by the flooding of a river outside? Then, when the water subsided, the mud would remain and petrify. Much later, another stream might have risen in the mountain and begun to make its way through here, cutting away the solid mud and leaving these traces. Then that stream, too, vanished in its turn.”

The Professor nodded. “I see. Let’s try the C-ray. It may show us some fossils in the mud.”

It was difficult to work in that narrow space, but they got the machine braced on top of one of the knapsacks and the Professor turned it on. It hummed faintly, and the screen lit up. They saw a blurred tangle of vague shadows against the glow.

“Not very clear, is it?” said Dr. Tresselt.

The Professor turned a knob. Nothing happened. He began fussing with dials and snapping switches on and off, muttering to himself as he did so. Still, they could see nothing but those shadowy shapes, like the trailing edges of clouds.

“Too bad,” said Dr. Tresselt. “But I was afraid it wouldn’t operate properly on stone.”

Professor Bullfinch sighed, and snapped off the C-ray.

“Well,” said Irene, as she picked up her pack again, “it’s a good thing there isn’t any fossil Joe inside that wall, stealing a stone chicken leg.”

“Even a stone chicken leg wouldn’t be so bad,” Joe grumbled.

Dr. Tresselt flashed his light down the tunnel. “I’d like to follow this to the end,” he said, wistfully.

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