Judy Morse, age 14, of Westbrook, Maine, for her question:

What is the meaning of spelunking?

The word spelunk is coined from a very ancient word for a cave or cavern. The word spelunking, then, should have something to do with caves. And so it does. Spelunking is a fancy name for exploring caves, a spelunker is a person who explores caves, and speleology is the study of caves.

While we are on the subject of caves, there is one word that is more important than spelunking. That word is warning. Cave exploring can be a dangerous amusement. Many a smarty has lost his, life trying it. If you want to go spelunking, never go alone. What's more, be sure that one of the people with you is an expert spelunker. 1f you are in doubt as to whether a person is an expert spelunker, ask yolr parents, your teacher or your scoutmaster.