the prospect. That they still clung to a
ray of hope was shown by their actions. Again and again they traversed
the entire length of the cavern, vainly searching for an outlet that had
no existence.

As the night advanced, they suffered from hunger and cold. Only ten feet
above them were the two sheds, laden with everything needful. The
possession of these would mean, at the least, the power to endure a long
siege of imprisonment.

An idea flashed into Jerry's mind. He brought the rifle, and reached up
with it, standing on tiptoe. He was not tall enough, so he gave the
weapon to Sparwick. The latter was barely able to poke the sleds, but
he could not budge them an inch. They were evidently wedged tightly
across the hole. Their great weight held them there as though in a vise.

Sparwick dashed the weapon from him.

"It's no use," he cried. "I might as well try to move a mountain. A
year's poking won't bring them sleds down."

This ended the hopes of warmth and food. Death by starvation now stared
the captives in the face. A little later, the candle burned to the very
bottom and went out. The remaining one was too precious to light.
Sparwick crawled over against the wall. Jerry and Hamp followed him.
There they spent the night, huddled close to one another for warmth.

The hours of darkness seemed like so many weeks. At last the pallid
light of dawn appeared overhead. Another day had begun its course.

The day wore on with protracted suffering and monotony. Long after it
seemed that night was surely due, the gray streak of light continued to
quiver in the crevice.

At length Jerry sprang fiercely up and lit the precious candle. Lured on
by a hope that was born of despair, he staggered up and down the cavern.
He stared at the slimy walls and roof. From very weakness he reeled
against them time and again. Perhaps his wits were hunger-sharpened, as
he was more alert than usual. At all events, he discovered something
that had previously eluded him.

On the right-hand wall of the cave, close to the dead bear, was a sort
of rude path. It sloped up the rock by crevices and little ledges and
projecting knobs.

Jerry held the candle as far overhead as possible. The light shone into
a narrow, black recess under the roof. He shouted with all his might,
again and again, till the cavern rang with the echoes.

Hamp came in haste to the spot, and close behind staggered Sparwick.
They wonderingly demanded of Jerry what he m