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Rh their own torches and went on, feeling every foot of the way, while the Porto Rican remained at the entrance to await their return.

The flooring sloped downward, and presently they found themselves traversing a circuitous way, which seemed to lead, so Don declared, to the very bowels of the earth.

"Don't slip," came from old Jacob. "If ye do"

"You'll have a worse roll than I had on the mountainside," finished Dick. "No, thank you; once was enough for me."

But at last they reached a level again. Here the lower cave was not over five to six feet wide, but of such a height that the torches failed to light up the ceiling. The opening seemed to be a winding one and without end.

"If we don't look out, we'll get lost," said Bob. "We must be an awful way from the entrance."

As they advanced, Robert Menden threw down a little crushed rice, with which he had filled several of his pockets. "We can follow that trail back, if the worst comes to the worst," he declared. "But it will be a long and tedious work."

They had now another stream to cross. The water was clear and cold, and all stopped for a drink.