Part 20 (1/2)

”I guess we've got it doped out all right,” Chester answered ”All we've got to do now is to go on and see whether we have or not”

The boys pressed on to the back of the first cavern and turned to the right into one which ran parallel with it Their lights showed that a fire had been built in the tunnel connecting the two There were also ees scattered about

”This looks like population,” grinned Will

”Isn't this the spot from which the men disappeared?” asked Chester

”Unless I am much mistaken,” Will returned, ”the three men were in front of a fire in this tunnel Say, but they did get out of sight quick, didn't they? It was like the scene froe they crawled into can't be far away,” Chester volunteered, ”at any rate, right here's where ant towhere this wrinkle leads to,” Will said as the lights pierced the narrow channel ”If we get down there, we et back”

”Father must have known of this place,” Chester said, ”and that's why he talked about e, we certainly can!” replied Will

”Are we going do?” asked Chester

”I'ame for it”

”Well, then, wait a minute!”

Chester ran to the entrance of the cavern and looked up and down the gorge and valley When he returned there was a worried look on his face

He pointed to the dry channel and said:

”We ”

”Who is it?” asked Will

”I couldn't distinguish faces,” was the reply

”Wasn't George and To fast, so we , but we're on our way,” he smiled as he dropped down on his hands and knees and scrambled backward into what had once been the channel of a mountain strea his best to draw the boulder into place, scraet the rock fixed?” asked Chester as they caether on a little level place probably thirty feet down

”Couldn't budge it!” was the reply

”Well, then, we'll keep on going”

”Je-rusaleh the ridge And that would !”