Strange Creatures of Dr. Korbo by Gilbert L. Morris Read Free Book Online

walk.”
    â€œI’ll take care of that,” Jake said. “Come on, Reb. Let’s go cut some saplings for handles.”
    As the two of them disappeared, Dave moved rapidly, organizing for the journey. He divided up what was left of the roast pig so that each could carry an equal amount. He went around giving instructions quickly and efficiently.
    â€œJosh, I expect it would be better if you would be one of the ones that carry Miss Viona.”
    â€œAll right, Dave. If you say so.”
    Sarah watched all this with dismay. She did not like it that Dave had suddenly become the leader. She knew that somehow this was wrong. Goél had appointed Josh. But she did not try to argue the point now.
    Reb and Jake soon came back with saplings trimmed, and they quickly made a litter. “All right,” Reb said. “We’re ready to go now, Miss Viona. We’ll carry you up front, and you can show us the way.”
    The old lady nodded. She looked very ill and tired, and she lay utterly still under the blanket that the girls had spread over her.
    They started their journey with Dave in the lead. Right behind him walked Josh and Reb, carrying the litter. The rest of the group followed, and Sarah broughtup the rear. “If you see anything suspicious back there, just call out, so we’ll all have time to get armed,” Dave urged her.
    â€œAll right, Dave.” She remembered what she and Reb had seen, and she said under her breath, “I just hope we don’t see any of those monster squirrels.”
    Viona gave instructions as they went along. After a while they came to a clearing and then followed a path that hugged the base of a steep rocky incline.
    Dave all of a sudden stopped the procession. “Look at that! ” he cried.
    Everyone craned their necks. Overhead flew a huge black shape that had apparently risen out of the forest and was headed for the top of the rocks.
    â€œThat is the monster bat that drinks blood!” Viona said. “They do not usually come out in the daylight, but sometimes they do.”
    â€œWhere is he going?” Dave asked.
    As they watched, the creature disappeared into a black hole in the cliff.
    â€œI bet that cave’s full of them,” Jake muttered.
    â€œLet’s keep going,” Dave said. “Is it much farther, Miss Viona?”
    â€œNo. Not far,” she said.
    The little group moved onward, and then Dave stopped them again. “Hold up a minute—I hear something!”
    Viona said weakly, “It is just the waterfall. We are nearly to our hiding place.”
    Dave motioned them forward. They came out of a clump of woods, and suddenly a waterfall was before them, cascading over a sheer face of rock.
    â€œIt’s beautiful!” Sarah whispered. “It looks like a picture postcard.”
    â€œBut where is the cave, Miss Viona?” Dave asked.
    â€œIt is behind the waterfall.”
    â€œHow can that be?”
    â€œThere is a natural cavern. Not many people know of it,” she said.
    â€œHow do you get past the water?”
    â€œThere is a narrow ledge behind the waterfall. I will have to walk. There would not be room for a stretcher. Here, help me up.”
    Sarah helped the old woman to her feet. “Put your arm around my shoulder,” she said. “Are you sure you can walk?”
    â€œYes.” Viona’s face was pale, and her hand went to her chest in a way that told Sarah pain was there.
    â€œWe’ll take it slow and easy,” Sarah said.
    Sarah and Viona went first, moving very slowly. She soon found that the ledge was barely wide enough for two people. But they edged past until they were behind the roaring waterfall, which thundered in her ears.
    As she helped the old lady, the other Sleepers came behind, single file.
    â€œHere is our hiding place,” Viona whispered.
    A large cavern had apparently been eaten out of the cliff side by water action and wind. It was