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 ma.s.s 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 b.u.t.ton 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!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Giant, and all felt that he was right. The whole ma.s.s 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 still pitch dark around them, Snap lit a match and set fire to a dry bush. By the light, they saw they were in a hollow that was not unlike a cave in the mountain. At their feet ran the stream that had carried them forward, disappearing under some overhanging rocks. On all sides were rocks and dirt, with here and there a decayed tree root, showing that they were not very far under the earth's surface.

"Here's an adventure," was Shep's comment. "We must be careful, or we'll bring down that dirt above us and be buried alive."

"We are about buried alive now," said Giant. "I'd give a good bit to be out of this hole."

Stepping from the brushwood, the boys made their way to the dirt and rocks beyond. By this time each had a kind of a torch, so the place was fairly well lighted.

Walking back a distance, they saw where the smoke curled to---through the shaft down which they had fallen so unceremoniously. But the top of the shaft was hidden from their view.

"I don't know how we are going to get up that," was Shep's comment, after looking the ground over. "If we try it we may bring all the dirt and rocks down on our heads."

"Just my idea of it," answered Snap. "Let us try to find some other way out."

They walked back and forth in the cave and then, by common consent, sat down on some flat rocks to consider the situation.

n.o.body felt like joking, for all felt the seriousness of the situation.

"That water must come to the surface somewhere," said Snap. "But it may be a good distance from here."

As they were wet to the knees, one after another got down in the stream and examined the rocks. Some thought they saw daylight under the water beyond the rocks, but n.o.body was sure.

"If it wasn't so cold a fellow could take a dive and find out," said Shep. "But I don't want a dive in such water as that," and the others agreed with him.

It was noontime and Whopper suggested that they have something to eat.

"I am willing," said Snap. "But don't eat too much. There is no telling how long we'll have to remain down here."

So they ate sparingly, and washed the meal down with water from the underground stream, which was as pure as it was cold.

The afternoon was pa.s.sed in looking around the cave. All they found of interest were the bones of several wild animals.

"Perhaps they fell into this place and couldn't get out again,"

suggested Shep, gloomily.

Snap had obtained a long stick and with this he was poking at the ceiling in various spots. He worked with care, and the others watched him with interest.

"There, look at that!" he cried, presently. "The stick has gone through into something!"

He withdrew the stick as he concluded, and the boys saw a single ray of light shoot down upon them. All sprang to the opening quickly.

"There is daylight there, that is sure!" cried Whopper, and his voice had a ring of hope in it. "Let us dig away a little dirt and see what comes of it."

All were willing, and they poked at the dirt with care, using such sticks as they could find for the purpose. At first the ground came away slowly, but soon Snap noticed several cracks.

"Look out there!" he cried. "Something is coming down! Get back!"

All leaped out of danger and the next moment down came a ma.s.s of dirt, rocks and brushwood, scattering in all directions. The downfall left a hole all of two yards in diameter, and they could easily look out on the sky.

"Hurrah!" cried Whopper. "This is how the young hunters escape from their underground dungeon cell!"

The fall of the dirt and rocks had left a mound on the center of the cave floor, and by mounting this they were enabled to pull themselves to the earth's surface. It is safe to say that never were boys more delighted to get out of a hole.

"After this I am going to be careful where I step," said Shep.

"First it was a hollow tree and then this cave. Maybe the next time I won't get out at all," and he gave a little shiver.

CHAPTER XVI

A SUCCESSFUL DEER HUNT