"You can go if you want to," answered Dick. "But fix your traps so that no wild animals can get at the food."
"Oh, the grub is safe enough. I'll keep a good fire burnin'," answered the prospector. They could readily see that he was a peculiar man, but with a kindly heart. Family troubles had caused him to try his fortunes in this out of the way portion of the globe.
It did not take long for them to build up the campfire and get an extra torch. This done, all set off in the direction of the split in the rocks, Jack Wumble leading the way and the others coming in a bunch behind him.
The Rover boys knew not what to say or what to think. Had Tom tumbled into that awful opening, and if so, was he alive or dead?
"If he went down there I don't see how he could escape," whispered Sam to his brother. "Why, when I crossed on that tree I couldn't see the bottom!"
"Let us hope he didn't take that tumble," was the low reply.
CHAPTER XXIII
A SLIDE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE
"My gracious, Dick! It sure is snowing some now!"