ble to get through, no matter how hard I try."

"I'll help you," answered Snap, and worked his way to the small
youth's side.

"Say, fellows, the bottom isn't very safe here!" exclaimed Whopper,
a second later. "It's all spongy!"

"Let us get out!" put in Shep, thinking of his experience in the
hollow tree.

They tried to turn, but before they could make any progress felt the
brushwood sinking rapidly. Then came a crashing of branches and
vines, and down slipped all four of the young hunters, from the
bright light of day into utter darkness!

All gave yells, for they were thoroughly frightened. They were
pitched together in a heap, and held tight to one another as they
went down, first a distance of fifteen or twenty feet and then
twice further.

"We are in water!" gasped Shep, when he could speak. The water
was up to their ankles, but speedily it reached their knees.

At last, when the downward movement had come to an end, the boys
drew long breaths and tried to gaze around them. They were in
a mass of brushwood, and this brushwood seemed to be floating on
the water. All was pitch dark around them, for they had not come
down straight, but in something of a zig-zag fashion.

"Well, of all things!" came from Whopper. "Are we going down to
the center of the earth?"

"It looks like it." answered Giant, with a groan.

"One thing seems to be certain, fellows---we are not meant to get
those deer."

"That looks to be true," answered Snap.

"This is about as bad as being down that hollow tree," said Shep.
He was more than glad that he was not alone.

Having recovered their breath a little, the young hunters tried to
decide upon what would be the best thing to attempt next.

"We have got to get out, that is all there is to it," said Snap.

"Well, I am willing," said Whopper, gravely.

"See any stairs around?" asked Giant.

"Maybe Snap has spotted an elevator," said Whopper, with a grin.
"If so, Snap, press the button by all means."

"I don't think this is any laughing matter," said the leader of
the gun club.

"No more do I," answered Shep, quickly. "The sooner we get out
of this hole the better."

"We are moving again!" ejaculated Giant, and all felt that he was
right. The whole mass of brushwood floated off on something of an
underground stream, carrying the boys with it. The movement
continued for a distance of at least two hundred feet and then the
bushes became stationary.

As it was