"We'll be buried alive if we don't get out!"

The falling of the tree caused some rocks to shift, and a moment later one fell close to the opening, blocking it completely. Then came an other shower of small stones and dirt. Bewildered and badly frightened, the boys ran to another part of the cave and hugged the big rocks. At that moment they all felt the cave might be their tomb.

"I---I wish we had never co---come in here," groaned Whopper.

"I'd give all I am wo---worth to be out," answered Giant.

Snap and Shep said nothing, wondering what would happen next. A few more loose stones came down, and that was all.

"I believe the worst is over," said the leader of the club at last.

"The lightning knocked down a tree and that loosened those stones, that's all."

"That's all!" cried Whopper. "Isn't that enough? Did you want us to be buried alive?"

"I move we get out of here as soon as we can," came from Giant. "Rain or no rain, I'm not going to stay in this cave any longer."

"And I am with you," added Whopper.

"It's a question how to get out," answered the doctor's son. "That hole is shut by the rock that fell."

"We'll find some other hole, or else go below," said Snap, who was as willing as anyone to leave the place.

They moved around, examining one spot and then another. At two points they saw openings between the rocks but they were mere narrow slits and not one of the lads could get through them.

"I guess we'll have to go below," said Shep, at last. "I hate to do it, too, for it will be no easy matter to climb out of that hole where we took the tumble."

"It's the only thing to do," answered Giant. "Come on," he added.

"Staying here is making me nervous. If another tree should come down we might be buried alive."

They went back, and climbed down to the cave below. They had now but one torch and this was almost burnt out. As quickly as they could, they hurried to where they thought the hole was located. Only a ma.s.s of rocks and dirt met their view.

"What does this mean?" cried Whopper.

"We have made a wrong turn---this is not the spot," said Giant.

"It looks like the spot to me," added the doctor's son, doubtfully.

"It is the spot," said Snap, and his voice betrayed his great anxiety.

"Yes, but where is the opening?" questioned the others in concert.

"It is gone."

"Gone!

"Yes, there has been a landslide or something, and the hole has been covered up!"

CHAPTER XXIX

VISITED BY THE GHOST

For the moment after Snap made his dismaying announcement none of the young hunters spoke. Was it really true---was the hole covered up, and were they buried alive under the mountain?

It was a truly horrible thought, and every one of the lads shivered.

They looked at the torch, now burnt so low it was hard to hold, and then gazed at each other.

"Oh, Snap, we must find some way out!" faltered Giant. His voice shook so he could hardly speak.

"Yes, let us get out as soon as we can," added Whopper.

They soon saw that what Snap had said was true---there had been a heavy landslide and the hole beyond the cave was filled up completely.

Through the loose rocks and dirt the water was trickling and soon formed a fair-sized stream that flowed over the cave floor and disappeared into a crevice at one side.

"Well, we can't get out this way, that's sure," said Snap, after an examination. "We must find some other opening."

They hurried around, bound to do what they could while the torch lasted. But soon the light flickered up and went out, leaving them in total darkness.

"Let us keep together," said Shep. "It won't do to get separated."

All were willing to follow his advice, and they, slung their firearms over their backs and took hold of hands. Then they moved around the cave with caution.

"I see a light!" cried Whopper, when they had reached a far corner of the cave. "Look there!"

He pointed overhead. Sure enough there was a small hole. Through it ran a tiny stream of water.

"That hole won't do us any good," sighed Snap. "In the first place it is too small and in the second place it is out of our reach.

We'll have to find something better."

They moved on, and after a long time had pa.s.sed Giant found a slit between two rocks. They made an examination and found one of the rocks loose. They rolled it away and felt a rush of pure, wet air.

"Here's an opening!" cried the small youth, enthusiastically. "Oh, if only we can make it large enough!"

"We must make it large enough!" cried Shep, and then all went to work with vigor, pulling back such rocks as they could move and digging at the dirt with their bare hands. They had to make a regular tunnel ten or more feet long and it took them over an hour to do it. Their arms and backs ached from the labor, and their hands were scratched and their finger nails torn, but to all this they paid no attention. Their sole thought was to get out of the cave that looked as if it might become their tomb.

At last the opening was large enough to admit of the pa.s.sage of Whopper's body and he pa.s.sed to the outside. Then he dug from that end, and presently Shep came forth, followed by Giant and lastly by Snap.

"Thank heaven we are out of that!" murmured the doctor's son, and his chums echoed his sentiment. Never had the outer world appeared so glorious to them. At that instant they were all ready to vow they would never enter a cave again.

It was still raining, and the day was fast drawing to a close. The lightning and thunder had pa.s.sed away to the westward, but they knew the downfall would last at least an hour or so longer.

"If we try to get down to our camp now we'll be soaked," said Snap, as they gathered under the semi-protection of a large hemlock tree. "The underbrush is loaded with water, and if there is anything I hate it is to have a wet bough slash me in the face or breast."

"And we don't want to go back without that bear," put in Shep.