Page:Tom Swift in the Caves of Ice.djvu/219



a few moments after the collapse of the cave, and the destruction of the airship, on which they depended to take them from that desolate land, no one spoke. The calamity had been too terrible—they could hardly understand it.

The snow had ceased, and, over the frozen plain, in full retreat, could be seen the band of attacking Indians. They had fled in terror at the manifestation of Nature. And Nature, as if satisfied at the mischief she had wrought, called a halt to the movement of the ice. The roaring, grinding sounds ceased, and there were no more collapses of caves in that neighborhood.

"Well, we are up against it," spoke Tom, softly. "Poor old Red Cloud! There'll never be another airship like you!"

"We are lucky to have escaped with our lives." said Mr. Parker. "Another moment and it would have been too late. I was expecting something like this—I predicted it."