ust_ pick up my boys!" he added, as the owner came
on deck.

"Of course. Captain Nelson, put back and circle around that boat.
Light the searchlight and play it on the wreck."

"Aye, aye, sir!"

The _Norma_ began the search amid the storm and gathering darkness,
while the father peered over the side in anguished fear.

CHAPTER XXIV

THE ESCAPE

"Climb up, Andy! Climb up! Every time you see a lightning flash!"

"But where are we going, Frank?"

"Out of this cave! Don't you see what has happened? There's a hole in
the roof, and it slopes right down to us here. Crawl up on your hands
and knees, but don't slip back. It's our only chance!"

It was a few minutes after the stunning crash that had actually opened
up a way of escape for the two lads imprisoned in the cave. Frank was
quick to see and take advantage of it. A sort of sloping way was now
before them, and it was possible to crawl up along it.

But there was danger, too, for the rain was pouring in through the
opening in the roof--a veritable stream of water, probably diverted
from some puddles that had gathered from the heavy downpour. And to
climb up through this, along a muddy, slimy slope, was no easy task.
But it was their only means of escape, for back of them the tide was
still rising relentlessly.

"All ready, Andy?" called Frank.

"As ready as I ever shall be," was the grim answer.

"Well, don't move except when you see where you're going by means of
the flashes. It's the only safe way. Go ahead; I'll follow."

Slowly the younger lad took his feet and hands from the niches. He was
stiff from holding the same position so long, but his young blood was
soon in circulation again. He crawled out on the slope. It was quite
steep, but considerable earth had been jarred and washed from it so
that it was no worse than going up the peaked roof of a house, and Andy
and his brother had often done this in carrying out some of their
boyish pranks.

Slowly and painfully the younger lad toiled upward, followed by his
anxious brother. It was but a comparatively short distance up which to
climb, but going on their hands and knees made it seem doubly long.

Finally it was accomplished, however, and Andy crawled out of the
ragged hole and stretched out on the wet earth above, almost exhausted.

"Come! Get up!" cried Frank, as he finished the perilous journey and
sought to raise his brother. "You mustn't lie there. You'll get cold
an