this through the
translucent walls of the cave.

"Do you think they will come for us?" asked Ruth, in a low tone.

"Oh, yes, of course. If we don't get back by dark," responded Russ, as
cheerfully as he could. "But we'll be out before then. Come on, Paul.
Dig away!"

But it was very evident that they would not be out before dark. The ice
block was thicker than Russ and Paul imagined.

"Please rest!" begged Alice, after a period of hard work by the two
young men. "Please take a rest!"

"Can't afford a vacation," returned Russ, grimly.

But when he did halt for a moment, to get his breath, there came from
outside the cave a sound that sent all their hearts to beating joyfully
for it was the voice of some calling:

"Where are you? Where are you? Alice! Ruth!"

"Oh, it's daddy!" cried the girls together, and then Russ took up the
refrain, shouting:

"We're in the cave! Get axes and chop us out! We've only got our
knives!"

"We'll be with you in a moment!" said another voice, which they
recognized as that of Mr. Macksey. "We'll have to go for a couple of
axes!"

And then, as the hunter started back to Elk Lodge, Mr. DeVere, who
remained outside the ice cave, explained through a crevice in the ice
wall that made conversation possible how, becoming uneasy at the failure
of his daughters to return, he had set out, in company with Mr. Macksey
to look for them.

In their turn Ruth and Alice, with occasional words from Russ and Paul,
told how they had become imprisoned.

"Are you hurt?" asked Mr. DeVere, anxiously.

"Not a bit of it, but we're awfully cold, Daddy," replied Alice.

"We must give the boys back their coats," said Ruth to her sister in a
low tone. "They are not chopping now, and they'll freeze."

Russ and Paul did not want to accept their garments, but the girls were
insistent, and made them don the heavy coats. Then the four walked
rapidly around the cave to keep their blood in circulation.

"I wish Mr. Pertell would come and bring the camera," said Russ. "He
could get a good moving picture of the rescue."

"Maybe he will," suggested Paul.

There was a little silence, and then Mr. DeVere called, from outside the
cave;

"Here they come! Now you will soon be rescued! There's help enough to
chop away the whole cave!"

CHAPTER XVIII

SNOWBOUND

Alice and Ruth fairly flew together, holding their arms tightly about
one another in the excess of their emotion, as they heard this joyfu