ter dark, torn and disturbed as it is bound to be by
the rain, we might get into difficulties ourselves. No, we must camp
here until morning and then go for help."

They all decided finally this was best. The professor, too, pointed
out that their rivals were in a large and roomy cave, not likely to
suffer from lack of air nor food or water, since they must have
supplies with them.

"The only danger is that the cave has been crushed in," added Tom; "but
in that event we would be of no service to them anyhow."

The night seemed very long, and it was a most uncomfortable one,
because of the shock and exertions through which the party had passed.
Added to this was the physical discomfort caused by the storm.

But in time there was the light in the east that meant morning was at
hand, and with it came action. A hasty breakfast, cups of steaming
coffee forming a most welcome part, put them all in better condition,
and once more they were on their way, heading back to the main camp
where they had left their force of Indians.

"My!" exclaimed Tom, as they made their way slowly along, "it surely
was some storm! Look at those big trees uprooted over there. They're
almost as big as the giant redwoods of California, and yet they were
bowled over as if they were tenpins."

"I wonder if the wind did it or the earthquake," ventured Mr. Damon.

"No wind could do that," declared Ned. "It must have been the
landslide caused by the earthquake."

"The wind could do it if the ground was made soft by the rain; and that
was probably what did it," suggested Tom.

"There is no harm in settling the point," commented Professor Bumper.
"It is not far off our trail, and will take only a few minutes to go
over to the trees. I should like to get some photographs to accompany
an article that perhaps I shall write on the effects of sudden and
severe tropical storms. We will go to look at the overturned trees and
then we'll hurry on to camp to get the rescue party."

The uprooted trees lay on one side of the mountain trail, perhaps a
mile from the mouth of the cave which had been covered over, entombing
the Beecher party. Leaving the mules in charge of one of the Indians,
Professor Bumper and his friends, accompanied by Goosal, approached the
fallen trees. As they neared them they saw that in falling the trees
had lifted with their roots a large mass of earth and imbedded rocks
that had clung to the twisted and gnarled fibers. Thi