black mask or two, some burglars' tools and a
coarse sack.

"Hello! here's a discovery, Jack," cried Percival. "I shouldn't wonder
if this was some more of the plunder taken by the man with the white
mustache and his accomplices."

"It certainly looks like it," said Jack, examining the sack and finding
nothing in it; "but it strikes me that I can see a light ahead of us.
Suppose we go on."

"All right," agreed Dick, and Jack led the way forward.

CHAPTER XIX

MORE THAN ONE WAY OUT

Pushing on, Jack made his way, followed by Dick, through a narrow
passage and out into an open space where they could see the sky and a
lot of trees and bushes above them with a rough path leading to the
ground above.

"Well, we have found the way out, as well as the way in," said Jack,
"and we might as well go out this way as to return the way we came."

"But can we find the boys?"

"Certainly. You have a pocket compass?"

"No, I have not."

"Well, I have one or had, and anyhow, I don't think we need it. It is
daylight, and we know the direction we want to go. We should not have
any trouble in finding our way back."

"How are you going to do it when there is no road that we know of?"
asked Percival, as Jack began making his way toward the top of the
unnatural bowl in which they found themselves.

"I'll show you, Dick," Jack replied, pushing on, now using the stick to
assist him and now getting along without it.

They reached the top at last, and then Jack began examining the trees
about him, and presently said, pointing off into the woods:

"That is the south, and the boys are in that direction."

"How do you know it is the south?" asked Percival.

"Because the trees are more worn on this side, from frost and exposure.
Look on the other side and you will see a difference."

"Yes, I see it. The other side is smooth, while this is rough and of a
different color. And that is the north side, is it? I have noticed trees
looking like that, but did not think of settling direction by it."

"Yes, you can, and you will never go wrong. Come on, I think we can find
the boys all right," and with a look at the sun, which could be seen
above the treetops, Jack started off, Percival following.

Jack knew from the position of the sun and from the exposed side of the
trees which way to go, and he pushed on in a straight line without
deviating a foot to either side toward where he judged he would find the
boys, keeping an eye