To this hail there was no answer. Complete silence reigned.
“That’s mighty funny!” puzzled Harry. “Get your searchlight and let’s hunt him up. He can’t have gotten far away.”
A short search by all three boys resulted in the recovery of the searchlight. Beyond the damaged lens the instrument had suffered no injury. It was still serviceable and cast a strong beam of light.
By its aid the lads followed the passage, stepping rapidly forward. They were becoming alarmed over the failure of their chum to respond to their calls. All feared that Mackinder might have done the lad harm. Momentarily their anxiety increased.
“Here’s a side passage!” declared Harry, who brought up the rear of the little procession. “Where does this go?”
“Wait a minute with that searchlight, Ned!” called Jack, who followed Ned closely. “Throw it back here a minute for Harry!”
Before the light could be brought into service Harry had taken a step into the passage he had just discovered. A sharp cry of surprise brought Jack and Ned to his side in an instant.
The lads saw Harry bending over the form of their missing chum. Jimmie lay in a heap, blocking the passageway.
Fearful that their first suspicions had been correct, the boys scarcely dared investigate. Jack began growling out uncomplimentary remarks concerning Mackinder. Ned quickly forced his way to Harry’s side.
“Here, let me see him!” Ned cried, throwing the flame of his searchlight on the recumbent form. “Why, he’s all huddled up!”