nothing, but when
his eyes grew accustomed to the darkness, he made out the form of
his brother lying on some broken brushwood which the storm had swept
into the opening.

How to get down to Sam was a problem, and Tom was revolving the matter
in his mind when Sam let out another cry.

"Are you hurt, Sam?"

"N--not much, but m--my wind was kno--knocked out of me."

"Can you climb up to the top?"

"Hardly, Tom, the sides are very steep, and--yes, there is a regular
cave down here," went on Sam.

"A cave?"

"Yes."

"Where does it lead to?"

"I don't know. It's on the south side of the opening."

Tom's curiosity was aroused, and bringing forth the new rope they
had brought along for hoisting the flag, he tied one end to a tree
and lowered himself to his brother's side. By this time Sam was on
his feet and inspecting some scratches his left hand had received.

"Where is the cave, Sam?"

"There," and the youngest Rover pointed it out.

The opening was about two feet above the bottom of the gully. It was
perhaps four feet in diameter, but appeared to grow larger within.

"If we had a torch we might investigate a bit," said Tom. "I'd like
to know if the cave amounts to anything."

"It might have a pirate's treasure in it, eh?"

"Not likely, Sam. I don't believe it has ever been used. But if it
was of good size it might prove handy for us at some time or another."

They looked around, and finding some dry brushwood made two rude
torches. With these flaring brightly they entered the opening, the
flooring of which was of rock and tolerably smooth.

"We could live in this cave, if it wasn't that the opening to it is
in the gully," said Sam as they advanced.

"There may be another opening at the other end," said Tom. "It is
certainly quite long."

They had advanced fully a hundred feet, and now found themselves in
a chamber forty or fifty feet square. The ceiling was arched and so
high that they could not touch it without jumping up.

"This is as good as a house," said Tom. "See how dry the flooring
is. That proves that it is waterproof."

From the large chamber there were several passageways, all leading
toward the bay.

"Which shall we investigate first?" asked Sam.

"Let us start at the right."

"All right, Tom; the right ought to be right," answered Sam lightly.

On they went once more, the flooring now sloping before them. Here
there was considerable moisture, and they had to walk with care fo