'Hulloh! Why, where in thunder have you got to?' he cried. 'Here! hold on there in front. Where's Snap?'
The boys pulled up and looked round. Not five minutes before they had seen him; now, though they could see plainly amongst the grey, bare poles, there was no sign of him.
'Snap! hi, Snap!' they cried; and faint and far away an echo seemed to say 'halloa.'
'Was that an answer?' said Dick; 'here, dang your skin, hold up there,' he added, giving 'the Cradle' an angry dig in the ribs, to induce that animal to stop pawing the ground and snorting.
'Now shout agin, Frank, and mebbe this brute will let us hear if he answers.'
'Snap! halloa, halloa there, Snap!' cried Frank, and again from far away came an answering halloa, very feeble and faint, but still recognisable as Snap's voice.
'Why, he's underground,' said Towzer.
'Yes, I reckon he is,' said Dick; 'I hope he ain't much hurt.'
'Why, do you know where he is?' asked both boys.
'Not exactly, but if you'll give me thet lash-rope we'll, maybe, find him pretty soon. It's lucky we missed him so soon,' he added.