"All ready, Frank! Let's get a move on!" announced the impatient one, as he bound a large share of the torches to his back, picked up his gun, and awaited the word to make the plunge. One torch at a time was all they intended to use, since it would give enough illumination for their purpose and almost double the capacity of their stock in hand. "Fills the bill like fun," announced Lanky, after Frank had succeeded in lighting a billet of dry wood, the flare really illuminating the walled-in space between the rocky barriers. "Now to find out if this is going to lead two plucky prospectors to the corn-crib where they'll get their fill." As the boys proceeded it became evident the strange fissure in the side of the rocky mountain was but a "breathing space," as Lanky called it, for much more wonderful things hidden further in the underground depths. Sometimes Frank held the blazing torch, and then when a fresh one happened to be needed it would be Lanky who gripped it. Several times they feared they had come upon the end of the passage. In each instance, however, a fresh way to continue was found, even though it was necessary for them to get down flat and wriggle along in snake-like fashion. "Huh! we'll remember this last crawl as 'Fat Man's Misery,'" Lanky granted, after negotiating the difficult place successfully. "It's got me guessing where we'll be apt to come out, what with all this twisting and turning," observed Frank, still later on, as they found themselves looking upon a capacious cavern, with a lofty ceiling where stalactites hung like immense icicles. "And it's bothering me," spoke up Lanky, "how we could find any outlet at all, if our supply of torches or matches should give out. What with all this hard work, I'm as thirsty as--Frank, we made a foozle play after all!" "Forgot to fetch any water along--that's a fact," admitted the other, realizing the mistake when it was too late to remedy it. Then, on second thought, he continued: "After all, we hadn't even a canteen to hold any supply. Besides, I reckon there's aplenty dripping from these stalactites and trickling down the walls. It ought to quench our thirst." Lanky tried the plan and found there was no taste to the cold water, though it certainly must contain more or less lime, to make those odd formations. They had left this monster cavern and were passing along another chain of queer-shaped pockets, all connected, when Lanky, who held the torch, came to a sudden pause, so that Frank bumped into him. "What's the matter?" demanded Frank. "I glimpsed a pair of yellow eyes ahead! And listen to the growling, will you?" gasped Lanky. CHAPTER XXII AN ENDLESS CAVERN CHAIN "I see what you mean, Lanky, and hear the growling to boot!" exclaimed Frank Allen. "Some sort of wild creature makes its den in these caves!" ejaculated Lanky. "Maybe it's a wolf, or else a big cat! It might even be a mountain lion."