The match was ignited and the boys gazed around the hollow. Dave found some bits of projecting rocks and pulled himself up, and Roger came behind, the match burning itself out in the meanwhile. Then they pushed on, until they presently came to an opening through which the snow came down.
"Out at last!" murmured Dave. "I am thankful for that!"
"We have reached the open air, but we are not out of our difficulty," returned the senator's son. "I can't see anything of the road, can you?"
"Not yet, but it must be somewhere in the neighborhood, for we went upward in the cave."
They had come out at a point where there was a small table-land, which the wind of the night before had swept almost clear of snow. Below was the valley and above them a patch of firs.
"That's the forest," said Dave, pointing upward. "The road runs through there. I think the place where we took the tumble is over yonder."
"Let us call to the others again."
Once more they raised their voices, and from a distance came an answering call from Granbury Lapham.
"Where is he?" queried Roger. "I can't see anything through this snow."
"Neither can I."