“This is the worst fix yet,” he muttered, to himself. “If I stay here I’ll be frozen to death before morning,” and he gave a shiver which was not altogether from cold. It was then that he began to shout for help. His voice was weak, and it is doubtful if it could have been heard thirty feet from his prison. A quarter of an hour more went by, and Jack was almost stiff. His feet were like two cakes of ice, and his ears pained him fearfully. “Where can the others be? Why don’t they come and help me out?” He asked himself these questions over and over again. But no answer was vouchsafed. It was as if the other members of the Zero Club had forgotten his existence. Presently Jack heard a rustle in the bushes in front of him. Was it one of the other boys on the hunt? Then a low growl made him start and strain his eyes in the direction. What was it, a fox, wolf or bear? He looked up at the entrance to the hole, but no animal showed itself. Again he yelled, this time not only to summon assistance, but also to scare away the beast, whatever it was. A crashing in the brush followed, and then dead silence. “He’s gone away,” he muttered, with a sigh of relief. “But who knows but what he’ll come back, or some other animal will meander this way. Oh, if I was only out of this hole I’d take precious good care that I didn’t get into another.” Ten minutes more--an age to poor Jack--and another rustle in the brush was heard. Then followed a shout: “Hullo, Jack! Where are you?” It was Harry’s voice, and it thrilled him with joy. “Here I am, in a hole,” he replied. But, alas! his voice was so faint that Harry did not hear it, and passed to his left and continued the search in that direction. “Help! help!” cried Jack, frantically. “This way! In a hole! Help!” Harry did not hear, but Andy, who was also close at hand, did, and shouted to the others: “He’s here, fellows! Come this way!” “Where?” asked Boxy and Pickles, in a breath, while Harry quickly retraced his steps. “Somewhere around here. Listen.” Again Jack called out, and now they were able to locate him. Andy was in advance, and his companions were amazed to see him disappear as suddenly as if he had taken a plunge in the water. “There’s a hole there. Be careful!” shouted Harry. “Dat mus’ be a b’ar hole!” put in Pickles. “Pooh Andy’s dun gone in it, too!” “Help us out!” yelled Andy, from beside Jack. “This is a sort of a cave-in, and Jack is half buried under the dirt and snow.” “We’ll have to get the rope and haul them out,” remarked Boxy. “Run back for it, Pickles.” The colored boy skipped off at top speed. While he was gone, Boxy and Harry skirted the opening with great care, and found the most available standing place. When Pickles returned, he brought with him the sled rope, and also the one used for tying on the load. These were twisted together, and, not without some difficulty, Andy was raised up.