“There it is—right up on the top of the cliff!” exclaimed Phil.
“Look out! It’s coming down!” announced Dave. “Come in close to the rocks, all of you!”
The engineers did as directed, and a moment later they heard the big tree rolling and crashing through the underbrush some distance away. Then came another crash of thunder, followed by a tremendous downpour of rain.
Keeping close to the foot of the cliff, Dave and the others of his party began to search around among the rocks. Presently one of the young fellows set up a shout.
“Here is an opening! I don’t know how deep it is, but it looks to be pretty roomy.”
Dave carried a pocket flashlight with him, and this was turned on to dispel the gloom, for the sky was now completely overcast, and under the cliff it was quite dark.
“It’s a regular cave,” announced the young sergeant, after a hasty examination. “Here, Phil, give me your hand and I will let myself down and look around.”
The opening under the cliff proved to be amply large to shelter all of them, and the army engineers were glad enough to get into it and relieve themselves of their packs. Then they sat down to rest and to talk over the situation.
“I’d feel a good deal better if Roger were with us,” remarked Dave to Phil, as he and his old school chum peered forth from the opening of the cave-like shelter.
“You’ve said it, Dave!” was the low reply. “Gee! if anything happened to Roger—” Phil did not finish, but shook his head gravely.