"Yes, I guess he will," agreed Tad. "He'll have a right to congratulate himself that he has missed an opportunity to fall in."
The lads forgot their predicament for the moment in the laugh that followed.
"I wish we had a light," said one.
"We might build a fire. What's the matter with burning up our hats?" suggested Ned.
"No, we should be suffocated. Don't you know we are sealed up," objected Tad. "We don't want to make any additional trouble for ourselves."
"Yes," agreed the guide. "But it is peculiar that there is so much fresh air here. Now and then I can almost imagine I feel a draft, though I know that is not the case."
"Could we not get a draft through that large crack in the rocks up there?"
"I don't see how, Tad. There is nothing but solid rocks above it."
The lad stepped under the opening, holding up a finger which he had wet between his lips. For a full moment he stood poised like a statue while the other two boys lighted matches that they might the better see what he was doing.
"I don't care what you say, there is air coming from somewhere. There can be no doubt of it. I feel it plainly. Try it and see if you don't agree with me, Mr. Phipps."