"Right you are, lad." Leroy pointed with his hand. "This seems as good a trail as any. Shall we follow it?" "Yes." And forward it was again. Presently they came to another chamber, and here the slope was again upward, much to their satisfaction. "If we keep on going upward, we are bound to get out at the top, sometime," was the way Larry calculated. Climbing now became difficult, and in a number of places each had to help the other along. Then came a wall twelve feet high, and here they were compelled to halt. "It looks as if we were blocked," remarked the _Yorktown_ sailor after an examination. "I'm not going to give up yet," answered the boy. "If we can't get up any other way, we can build a stairs with those loose stones we just passed." "Hurrah! you've solved the difficulty!" exclaimed the old sailor, and they set to work with a will. But rolling and lifting the stones into place was no mean job, and when at last they were able to pull themselves to the passageway above, both were utterly worn out and glad enough to sit down. The rest lasted longer than either had intended, for Leroy, who had not slept well the night before, dozed off, and Larry was not of a heart to wake him up. So the boy went to sleep too, and neither awakened until early morning. "Hullo! what's this?" cried Leroy, the first to open his eyes. All was so dark about him--Larry having extinguished the torch--that for the minute he could not collect his senses. Putting out his hand he touched the youth on the face, and Larry awoke instantly. They were both hungry, and lighting the torch again, warmed up the kettle of stew, and then ate about one-third of the stuff. "Touches the spot," cried Leroy, smacking his lips. He could have eaten much more, but knew it was best to be careful of their supply until the outer world was gained. Much refreshed by their sleep, but somewhat stiff from the dampness and the unaccustomed work of the evening before, they proceed on their way, still climbing upward and still in a darkness, that was only partly dispelled by the feeble glare of the torch, which was now growing alarmingly small. "The light won't last more than a couple o' hours," said Leroy. "Perhaps we had better split the stick in two." This was done, and thus the feeble light was reduced one-half. Would the caves never come to an end? Such was the question Larry asked himself over and over again. Was it possible that they were to journey so far only to find themselves trapped at last? The thought made him shiver, and he pushed on faster than ever. "Do you know what I think?" said Leroy, an hour later. "I think we are moving around in a circle?" "A circle?" "Ay, lad. Don't you notice how the passageway keeps turning to the right?" Larry had noticed it. "But we are going upward," he said. "True; but who knows but what we'll be going downward presently."