d presently burst into a flame that was sufficient to
see by for a circle of twenty or thirty feet.

On they plodded, up an incline that seemed to have no end, and then
around another turn. Here the chamber widened out, and beyond there
were branches, two to the left and one to the right.

[Illustration: On they plodded, up an incline that seemed to have no
end.--_Page 236._]

"This is as far as I've ever been," said the boy. "The passages beyond
seemed to lead downward for part of the way, and it's impossible to
judge which is the best to take. But I was of a mind to try that one
on the right."

"Well, I reckon as how the right ought to be right," laughed Leroy.
"If it ain't, all we can do is to come back to here an' try over
again, eh?"

"We haven't got time to waste in experimenting, Leroy. This is a
serious business. We are liable now to be shot on sight."

"An' nobody knows thet better nor Dan Leroy, your humble servant. An'
if you say try one o' the other passages, I'm jes' as willin'."

"No, we'll take that on the right," returned the youth, and started
onward without further delay.

The passage was a crooked one, not over ten feet wide in any one part,
and but little over the height of a man. At one place a great rock
blocked the way, and over this they went on their hands and knees.

"Kind o' a tight squeeze," remarked Leroy. "If that rock war a bit
bigger, we wouldn't be able to git over it at all."

"Hark!" cried Larry, coming to a halt. "What is that, somebody
calling?"

They listened, and from a distance ahead made out a low murmur of some
kind. "It's water running over the rocks," cried Leroy. "I hope it's
a river leading to the outer world."

"Oh, so do I!" ejaculated the boy, and both started onward eagerly.
Long before the fall of water was gained they found themselves
splashing in an underground stream up to their ankles. The waterfall
was underground, coming from the rocks overhead and running into the
stream, which, in turn, sank out of sight some distance further on.

"Nothing in that," muttered Leroy, his face falling.

Nevertheless, they stopped for a drink, for the tramp through the
caves had made them thirsty. The old sailor held the torch, while
Larry carried the kettle. It was well that the top of the kettle was
on tight, otherwise the contents would have been spilled long before
this.

Beyond the waterfall the cave opened out once more in fan shape, the
roof running upward