e sum, but they did not dispute it. Sparwick
claimed the contents of the pocketbook as part payment in advance. He
allowed Jerry to take possession of the watch.

The affair was settled without delay, and then they turned their
attention to getting out of the cavern.

They regarded this as an easy matter, but a few minutes sufficed to show
them that they were in a very ugly fix.

They first explored the passage beyond the dead bear. It terminated
thirty feet distant in a hard wall of rock. Then they investigated the
other end of the cavern with much the same results. It dwindled to a
tiny crevice, through which a weasel could hardly have squirmed.

"It looks ugly," muttered Sparwick, scratching his head. "The bear must
a-had some way to get in. He never dropped ten feet through that hole."

This was sound logic, as the boys well knew. Hamp suggested another
search. Accordingly the cavern was gone over with extra care and
patience.

The result was the same. No visible outlet existed, save the tiny hole
overhead. Here the prisoners stopped and looked up. They quickly made a
disheartening discovery. It was snowing fast outside. The white flakes
were dropping through the dingy and trampled mass of crust.

"The trail of those rascals will all be covered up," exclaimed Jerry,
dolefully.

"It is out of sight by this time," replied Sparwick. "But that won't
matter much. I can guess purty well where them fellars are going. I
ain't denyin' that time is vallyble, though. There ought to be a way to
climb out of here."

"One of us might get on your shoulders," suggested Hamp.

"No use," Sparwick replied. "There ain't nothin' to ketch hold of but a
rim of snow. It's purty hard, but it wouldn't bear the weight of one of
you chaps."

This was manifestly true. Various other plans were discussed, and
abandoned as impossible.

Soon night came on, and the pale gray light faded away from the crevice.
The boys and their companion were now face to face with a dreadful and
terrifying fact. They were hopelessly entombed underground.
Unless some rescuer should chance that way--and there was slight hope of
this--they were doomed to certain death.

The disaster affected them differently. Sparwick fell into a dull,
apathetic mood, from which he would rouse at times to wring his hands
and groan. The man was plainly a coward at heart.

Outwardly, Jerry and Hamp made a braver show of courage. Perhaps they
didn't realize how black was