"I don't know how we are going to get up that," was Shep's comment, after looking the ground over. "If we try it we may bring all the dirt and rocks down on our heads." "Just my idea of it," answered Snap. "Let us try to find some other way out." They walked back and forth in the cave and then, by common consent, sat down on some flat rocks to consider the situation. Nobody felt like joking, for all felt the seriousness of the situation. "That water must come to the surface somewhere," said Snap. "But it may be a good distance from here." As they were wet to the knees, one after another got down in the stream and examined the rocks. Some thought they saw daylight under the water beyond the rocks, but nobody was sure. "If it wasn't so cold a fellow could take a dive and find out," said Shep. "But I don't want a dive in such water as that," and the others agreed with him. It was noontime and Whopper suggested that they have something to eat. "I am willing," said Snap. "But don't eat too much. There is no telling how long we'll have to remain down here." So they ate sparingly, and washed the meal down with water from the underground stream, which was as pure as it was cold. The afternoon was passed in looking around the cave. All they found of interest were the bones of several wild animals. "Perhaps they fell into this place and couldn't get out again," suggested Shep, gloomily. Snap had obtained a long stick and with this he was poking at the ceiling in various spots. He worked with care, and the others watched him with interest. "There, look at that!" he cried, presently. "The stick has gone through into something!" He withdrew the stick as he concluded, and the boys saw a single ray of light shoot down upon them. All sprang to the opening quickly. "There is daylight there, that is sure!" cried Whopper, and his voice had a ring of hope in it. "Let us dig away a little dirt and see what comes of it." All were willing, and they poked at the dirt with care, using such sticks as they could find for the purpose. At first the ground came away slowly, but soon Snap noticed several cracks. "Look out there!" he cried. "Something is coming down! Get back!" All leaped out of danger and the next moment down came a mass of dirt, rocks and brushwood, scattering in all directions. The downfall left a hole all of two yards in diameter, and they could easily look out on the sky. "Hurrah!" cried Whopper. "This is how the young hunters escape from their underground dungeon cell!" The fall of the dirt and rocks had left a mound on the center of the cave floor, and by mounting this they were enabled to pull themselves to the earth's surface. It is safe to say that never were boys more delighted to get out of a hole. "After this I am going to be careful where I step," said Shep. "First it was a hollow tree and then this cave. Maybe the next time I won't get out at all," and he gave a little shiver. CHAPTER XVI