"Where is he?" the four asked, again using the same words.
"I tell you I don't know. His horse is on the other side of the bluff, feeding as quietly as you please. The mail sack in on his back. Perhaps he has throwed his rider."
"Dix Lewis in this region!" exclaimed the chief, ignoring the last statement of the messenger. "There is work for us to do, boys! Come——"
At this juncture, the torch, which, unnoticed by all, had been dying out, flared up for an instant and then went out, leaving the little group enveloped in darkness.
"The furies!" cried one of the men. "Who's got anything to make a light?"
"Follow me!" commanded the chief, "and let the light alone. We must find that boy without any loss of time. His presence here at this——"
Little Snap failed to catch the rest, but he had heard enough to know that he must be active, too. From the sounds, he knew the party were leaving their underground rendezvous.
Aware that it would not do for these men to capture his horse with the mail, his mind was filled with conflicting plans of action. His first impulse was to return the way he had come, but he realized that it would be impossible for him to cross the chasm, even could he scale the slippery ascent beyond. Possibly, if he were coming the opposite way, he might leap the abyss, though that would be extremely doubtful.
Only one avenue of escape seemed open to him, and that was to follow upon the heels of his enemies!
He had not a moment to lose if he did this, and, without further consideration, he glided across the cavern room in the direction taken by the five men.