Slowly, foot by foot, he approached the opening, not knowing whether, even if he reached it, he would be able to draw himself through the hole. CHAPTER XXI. OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE. Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door which was ordinarily closed, but through some misadventure had been left open. It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done. Twice he failed, and nearly lost his grip on the rope. Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door, in emerging from his subterranean prison. Stretching himself, he took a deep breath, and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge. He began to look around him, and tried to conjecture in what direction he must go to reach Lee's Falls. He was quite at a loss, as he had been carried into the cave blindfolded. But help seemed to be at hand. He saw at a little distance, rapidly approaching him, a man of middle height, whom he concluded to be a resident of some place in the vicinity. "Can you tell me in what direction I must go to reach Lee's Falls?" he asked. The stranger paused and examined him sharply. "So you want to go to Lee's Falls?" he said. "Yes, sir." "Where do you come from?" "From Emmonsville." "Direct?" "No." "I saw you just now coming out of some opening in the earth." This alarmed Ernest. He felt that he might be called upon to explain where he had been. "Who is this man?" he asked himself. "Is he one who is likely to be in the confidence of the outlaws? If so, I have only got out of one scrape to fall into another." He studied the face of the man with whom he was speaking, and to his dismay noted a resemblance to James Fox, who had captured him. He began to suspect that this was his brother. Whether it was or not, Ernest deemed it politic to say as little as possible of his experiences, and of what he knew about the cave and its occupants. "Yes," he answered quietly; "there seems to be a cave underneath. I found the trap door open, and went down, but I regretted it, for I found it difficult to get out again." His new acquaintance eyed him scrutinizingly, as if to see whether he knew more than he was willing to reveal. "So there is a cave underneath?" he said inquiringly. "Yes." "Have you any idea what it is used for?" "I don't think it is used at all. The room below seems empty." The man regarded him fixedly. "When did you leave Emmonsville?" he asked abruptly. "Yesterday," answered Ernest in some confusion. "How does it happen that you have got no farther on your way to Lee's Falls?" "I stopped at the cabin of an Indian," answered Ernest, making the only explanation he could think of. The man smiled. "Young man," he said, "didn't you pass last night in this cave?"