d we'll throw Callack and his
Indians off the track."

He rose to his feet, and started into the cave, which seemed a large
one. They had toppled down a shaft or hole in the roof. The boys
followed him, and as they entered the cavern they saw a faint light at
the farther end.

"This cave has a back and a front door," observed Mr. Baxter. "Come on,
boys, we'll conceal ourselves in here until they have given up the
search."

As he spoke there sounded above their heads, and off to one side, the
shouts and yells of Callack and his men, who were running at top speed
after their captives. For the fight had been quelled, and the escape
discovered.

The cave was found to be one hollowed out under the earth and rocks, and
there was no ice or snow in it.

"Say, this is as warm as toast!" exclaimed Jerry.

"Toast! Don't mention such things," begged Fred. "I'm half starved. I
wonder why who ever made this cave didn't leave something on the
sideboard for visitors to eat?"

"I guess this is a natural cave," replied Mr. Baxter. "There doesn't
appear to be any signs that any one was ever in it before. It will serve
us well, though, as Fred says, it's hard to be without food."

There was nothing to do but wait until it was safe to emerge. The
fugitives went close to the other opening of the cavern. In front of it
stretched a big level field of ice and snow, as far as the treasure
seekers could observe, which was not far, for the snow still came down
in big flakes.

The warmth, which was a welcome change from the terrible cold, made them
drowsy, and before they knew it the escaped captives were dozing off.
How long they slept they could not tell, as there was no way of
measuring time, and with no change from daylight to darkness.

With their awakening came a renewal of the pangs of hunger. In that cold
climate men need to eat often and heartily to combat the frost king, and
the captives, weakened by the exposure, their exertions and lack of
food, suffered very much.

But they grimly bore it all, and, though the boys felt it more than did
Mr. Baxter, who was seasoned to hardships, they never complained.

"Maybe if one of us went out, we could find some edible mosses beneath
the snow," suggested Fred. "That would be good for us, wouldn't it, Mr.
Baxter?"

"Yes, if we can find the moss. There are some kinds that will keep a man
from starving. I'll go out of the cave. I think it will be safe now. It
must be several hours si