He paced the distance as accurately as he could, but by this time he had entered the cave so far that he could scarcely see about the place.
But he had come prepared for just such an emergency as this, and taking a candle and match from his game-bag, he proceeded to make a light.
He glanced cautiously around the dark and somber cave, and the first thing his eyes rested on were the forms of two dead wolf cubs, evidently belonging to one of the mothers he had slain the week before, and undoubtedly starved to death in consequence.
But this attracted his attention for only a moment.
Standing at the distance of ten feet from the last-discovered point, he held up a little compass that he wore as a charm to his watch chain, in order to ascertain in which direction east lay.
The tiny magnet finally stood still and pointed. The east lay to the right.
Again, by the aid of his candle, he searched for indications.
The walls were damp and seemingly solid.
Had he lost the lead? With the butt of his pistol he began rapping along the stone wall.
It seemed like original adamant.