Part 14 (2/2)

Already more than an hour had passed since they left the cabin They advanced with redoubled caution, working two abreast, and patting the roof and sides of the tunnel toordeal calorious was the reward The slab of bark, hich Jerry was digging, suddenly struck so hard It proved to be a rock, and the boys cleared the space around it with frantic haste

A ular cavity between the two great boulders It was indeed the storehouse

With greedy hands they tore away the sled and clutched at the precious supplies lying underneath The fear of bringing an avalanche down on their heads was all that kept the into hearty cheers

”We are saved,” cried Haht

”Stay right here,” said Jerry ”I'll be back in a jiffy”

He snatched a handful of ht as he went along He was quickly out of sight, but in less than fivelantern

The next step was to enlarge the space in front of the rocks, and when this was accoed out of the cavity, and the supplies--snowshoes and all--were securely strapped upon it

Then the return trip was begun Jerry crawled ahead with the lantern, and Hale was safely rounded, and it was a happythey did was to eat a hearty meal, and no banquet could have tasted better than the dry, uncooked food

”What time is it?” asked Jerry

”Just four o'clock,” replied Brick, looking-at his watch

”Then I'll tell you e had better do,” resumed Jerry ”If a thaw and rain should come--and it feels pretty close now--the cabin would alo back to the storehouse and dig another tunnel clear out to the lake I'll bet anything the wind blew the ice clear of snow Then, if we reach the open air, we can start away fro and hunt another camp First, we'll look up those prospectors”

This proposition suited Hae as Jerry

Without delay, the boys started back to the storehouse They took with thehted lantern, and each was provided with a snowshoe for digging purposes

The task proved a long and weary one, but they pluckily persevered They chiseled a passage straight down the trough of the ravine, guided along the way by well-remembered land Jerry's snowshoe broke through the thin wall of snow, and the delighted boys tuht air They found themselves several yards beyond the mouth of the ravine

Far in front stretched the lake, its icy surface al higher and higher as it receded, until it rose many feet above the banks of the ravine The tree that had fallen across the storehouse was utterly invisible, while of the upper tree only a few protruding li accomplished their purpose, and thus opened a way of retreat from the buried cabin, the boys entered the tunnel once ry after their toil, and immediately sat down to another heartylittle inclosure, and the contented faces of the lads reflected its beams

”This is what I call comfort,” declared Jerry, as he put away the provisions

”It's not bad,” assented Brick ”I only wish---- Hullo! what's that?

I heard a cry from, outside, fellows”

”So did I,” exclaimed Hamp ”Listen!”