He darted around a point of rock as he spoke, and his companions quickly followed him.
Luckily for them, they were not seen by the dwarfs, and half a minute later the whole gang rushed by them.
The two fugitives had scarcely entered the vast cavern when they were overtaken by their pursuers.
Both villains at once threw up their hands and howled for mercy.
But the dwarfs did not understand them, and if they could have done so it is not likely that it would have made any difference.
Doc Clancy was thrown upon the ground in the twinkling of an eye, and his companion was flung almost on top of him.
It was just at this moment that our friends saw large numbers of the dwarfs leave their fires and rush to a point at the furthermost end of the huge cavern.
But as it was beyond the range of their vision, they could not see what it was that called the little cave dwellers to that certain spot.
Meanwhile the dwarfs picked up their two prisoners and started across the cavern.
They were bent upon joining their companions, by the manner in which they hurried, and in spite of the pleadings of Doc Clancy and his friend, they were hustled away in a fashion that was decidedly unceremonious.