We had
better be getting back to camp as quickly as we can. Of course we
can't do anything until Captain McKay returns, but the more quickly
we get away from here the better it will be for us."

"I---I'm scared. Aren't you?" stammered the fat boy apprehensively.

"No, I am not scared, but I realize that we are in danger every
minute we stay here. Those men wouldn't trifle with us, were they
to catch us. Do you know what they would do to us if they caught
us here, Chunky?"

"Nu---nu---no."

"They would fill us full of lead, that's what they would do. Light
another match while I look into this niche. Then we will be making
tracks for the outside."

Tad was back by Stacy's side a moment later. He motioned that they
were to go back. The boys started briskly for the opening. The
instant they had crawled out into the outer chamber they realized
that all was not as it should be. At first they did not understand
what had occurred.

Tad was the first to make the discovery of what had occurred.

"We're caught!" he cried.

"H---ho---how?"

"The tree has closed the opening to the cave. Now we are in a nice
pickle."

Stacy was speechless. He held a burning match in his hand until the
match burned up to his finger, whereat Chunky dropped the match with
an exclamation.

"I---I'll tell you what let's do. Let's dig through the roots. We can
do it. Come on."

Tad laid a restraining hand on the fat boy's arm.

"We won't do that just yet. This may have been an accident. Those
stones may have slipped off. I am inclined to think that is what has
happened. If so, we don't want to leave any clues---"

"I'd rather leave clues than to leave my dead body in here," wailed
Chunky.

"Buck up! Don't show a yellow streak, Chunky!" commanded Tad sharply.

"I'm not yellow. But I know enough to know when I've got enough. I
know I've got enough of this bandit-chasing business. I ought to have
known better than to go out with you. They think I can't keep out
of trouble. I can keep out of trouble all right if other folks don't
lead me into it. Now see what a fix you've got me into, Tad Butler!"

"It strikes me that I am in the same fix. But we're going to get
out of it, Stacy---"

"Yes, but how?"

"I don't know, but I'll find a way."

"Why, we'll starve to death in here. They'll find our bones here a
few years from now and they'll wonder---I wish I had something to eat."

"Tighten your belt. Remembe