As closely as he dared, Little Snap followed after them, and when he could no longer hear their movements he ventured to peer out. As at the other place of entrance, the mouth of the cavern was overgrown with stunted bushes, so as to be well concealed from sight. He found, too, that the spot was nearly twenty-five feet from the ground, it being midway up the side of the bluff.
A small stone rattling down the side of the declivity, passing within a few inches of his head, warned him of the close proximity of his enemies.
It also told him that they had ascended to the top of the cliff. In fact, that seemed the only way of escape from the place, as the rock descended smooth and perpendicular to the bottom.
With greater caution than ever, he noiselessly scaled the ascent in the footsteps of the four men, who were hastening to find him.
As his head came on a level with the top of the rocky heights, he discovered them approaching the opposite side, creeping cautiously toward the edge overlooking the clearing where the Raggles family had camped, and where he had left Jack.
A movement below him at that moment warned him of the return of Blake from his search for the missing letter. Glancing downward, he saw the head of the other appearing in the mouth of the cave!
Little Snap began to realize that he was in close quarters.
To retreat would be to throw himself into the arms of the enemy behind, while it would be even greater madness to ascend to the summit.
No sooner had Little Snap taken a hasty survey of his situation than he decided that by following along the side of the bluff he might reach a place where he could descend in safety to the valley.
With an agility belonging to one of his years, he advanced on the side of the cliff, finding a foothold in some crevice of the ledge or on a bush, and clinging with a tenacious hold to its precarious support.