"Hello dar!" exclaimed a voice at this juncture. "Whar am everybody? Did anyt'ing happen?"
"It's Johnson," said Mr. Baxter. "Yes, something did happen."
"Whar am yo'?" asked the colored man. "I can hear yo', but I cain't see yo'."
The entrance to the cave, in which were the three, was partly hidden from view by the broken ice.
"We're in the cavern," replied Fred, stepping to the opening, where Johnson could see him.
"Do you think this is the place, father?" asked Jerry, gazing around curiously.
"I think so. It seems to correspond with the map. But we shall soon find out. Probably the gold is not buried very deep, as Stults did not have much time. The cave is small, and it ought not to take long to explore it thoroughly. George, tell Holfax where we are, have him make a sort of temporary camp just outside here, and bring up the tools. We'll stay in the cave, I think. It's warmer than outside."
The colored man went back to join the Indian, while Mr. Baxter and the boys looked about the cave, as well as they were able to in the darkness. The cavern was about twenty feet square, and the roof seemed to be quite high up. It was formed of rock, and here and there water had leaked through and frozen, long, sharp icicles hanging from the sloping sides and roof.
"When we get a lantern lighted we can begin to dig for the treasure," said Mr. Baxter. "I'm afraid it will be difficult work, though, for the ground is frozen as hard as a stone."
The thought of being so near the store of precious metal took their minds off of the narrow escape from death that Mr. Baxter had just had. Fred recovered his nerve, and waited with impatience the return of Johnson and Holfax with the lanterns and tools.