Reaching the base of the falls, they paused a while to contemplate them.

There was nothing noteworthy about them, except their location underneath the ground.
The water fell with such a gentle sound that the two were able to converse in ordinary tones when standing directly at the base.

Both knelt down and tasted the cool and refreshing element, and then Mickey, torch in hand, led the way up stream again.
Through this world of gloom the two made their way with considerable care.

Mickey cherished a lingering suspicion that there might be some one else in the cave besides themselves, in which case he and Fred would offer the best target possible; but he was willing to incur the risk, and, although he moved slowly, it was with a decision to see the thing through, and learn all that was to be learned about the cave.

The stream was followed about a hundred yards above the falls, when the explorers reached the point where it entered the cave, and the two made the closest examination possible.
On the way to the point the two had acquired considerable information.
The roof of their underground residence had a varying height from the floor of from twenty to fifty feet.