re below, acting as a furnace or the funnel of a chimney. We
must try to get down to the bottom, and see if there's such a thing. If
there be, who knows but it may be big enough to let us out of our
prison, without having to carve our way through the walls, which I feel
certain would take us several days. We must try to get down to the
bottom."

To accede to this request the guide needed no urging, and both--one
after the other--at once commenced descending.

They found no great difficulty in getting down, any more than they had
already experienced, for the shaft continued all the way down nearly the
same width, and very similar to what it was above the ledge. Near the
bottom, however, it became abruptly wider by the retrocession of the
walls. They were now in a dilemma, for they had reached a point where
they could go no further without dropping off. It might be ten feet, it
might be a hundred--in any case enough to make the peril appalling.

Wilder had gone first, and soon bethought himself of a test. He unslung
his powder-horn and permitted it to drop from his hand, listening
attentively. It made scarce any noise; still he could hear it striking
against something soft. It was the brush thrown in by the Indians.
This did not seem far below; and the half-burnt stalks would be
something to break their fall.

"I'll chance it," said Walt, and almost simultaneous with his words was
heard the bump of his heavy body alighting on the litter below.

"You may jump without fear, Frank. 'Taint over six feet in the clar."

Hamersley obeyed, and soon both stood at the bottom of the chimney--on
the hearthstone where the stalks of the creosote still smouldered.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

OFF AT LAST!

On touching _terra firma_, and finding plenty of space around, they
scrambled from off the pile of loose stones and stalks cast down by the
Indians, and commenced groping their way about. Again touching the firm
surrounding of rock, they groped searchingly along it.

They were not long engaged in their game of blind-man's buff, when the
necessity of trusting to the touch came abruptly to an end--as if the
handkerchief had been suddenly jerked from their eyes. The change was
caused by a light streaming in through a side gallery into which they
had strayed. It was at first dim and distant, but soon shone upon them
with the brilliance of a flambeau.

Following the passage through which it guided them, they reached an