He watched the curious crowd as they filed past, expecting every moment to see Jack and Joe being brought back.
But no such sight greeted his eyes, and at length the entire crowd of dwarfs who had entered the passage a few minutes before had left it and returned to the burning fires in the cavern.
"They have left Jack and Joe somewhere back here in this passage," said Van, in a tone of deep concern, when the dwarfs were out of hearing.
"They have, sure, if they took 'em in here," observed Lank Edwards.
"I know they took them in here," returned our hero. "I saw them; and as they are still here, and not far away, I should judge, I propose we look for them."
"I agree with you!" exclaimed Dr. Pestle, warmly. "Come on; there is enough left of the torch I manufactured to light us on our way."
"Suppose the little fiends have killed our two companions," spoke up the professor, in a faltering tone; "what then?"
"If such a thing has happened, they'll be dead," replied Lank Edwards. "But, come on; I'll wager a plug of terbacky that we'll find 'em."
Dr. Pestle struck a match and lighted the rudely constructed torch, and the four started along the passage.
It was slimy and damp in the place, and lizards could be seen crawling about in all shapes.