On they plodded, up an incline that seemed to have no end, and then around another turn. Here the chamber widened out, and beyond there were branches, two to the left and one to the right. [Illustration: On they plodded, up an incline that seemed to have no end.--_Page 236._] "This is as far as I've ever been," said the boy. "The passages beyond seemed to lead downward for part of the way, and it's impossible to judge which is the best to take. But I was of a mind to try that one on the right." "Well, I reckon as how the right ought to be right," laughed Leroy. "If it ain't, all we can do is to come back to here an' try over again, eh?" "We haven't got time to waste in experimenting, Leroy. This is a serious business. We are liable now to be shot on sight." "An' nobody knows thet better nor Dan Leroy, your humble servant. An' if you say try one o' the other passages, I'm jes' as willin'." "No, we'll take that on the right," returned the youth, and started onward without further delay. The passage was a crooked one, not over ten feet wide in any one part, and but little over the height of a man. At one place a great rock blocked the way, and over this they went on their hands and knees. "Kind o' a tight squeeze," remarked Leroy. "If that rock war a bit bigger, we wouldn't be able to git over it at all." "Hark!" cried Larry, coming to a halt. "What is that, somebody calling?" They listened, and from a distance ahead made out a low murmur of some kind. "It's water running over the rocks," cried Leroy. "I hope it's a river leading to the outer world." "Oh, so do I!" ejaculated the boy, and both started onward eagerly. Long before the fall of water was gained they found themselves splashing in an underground stream up to their ankles. The waterfall was underground, coming from the rocks overhead and running into the stream, which, in turn, sank out of sight some distance further on. "Nothing in that," muttered Leroy, his face falling. Nevertheless, they stopped for a drink, for the tramp through the caves had made them thirsty. The old sailor held the torch, while Larry carried the kettle. It was well that the top of the kettle was on tight, otherwise the contents would have been spilled long before this. Beyond the waterfall the cave opened out once more in fan shape, the roof running upward to a high arch, from which hung stupendous stalactites of white and brown. Here the water dripped down in the form of a fine rain. "We're in a shower, lad, even though we are underground," remarked Leroy. "I must say I hope this don't last. If it does, we'll soon be wet to the skin." The vaulted cave soon came to an end, however, and now they found themselves in an opening cut up into a hundred different chambers, like a coal mine supported by arches. Each looked at the other in perplexity. "We can easily miss the way here," said Larry, soberly. "We had better lay out a course and stick to it."