“If this pitch keeps on,” Don declared, “we’ll come out at the very top before long!”
“We’re not far from some top now,” Clay replied, “for it is getting lighter in here, and the light comes from the roof!”
But this was true for only a short distance. It soon became dark in the passage again. After a time, still ascending, the passage turned to the east, narrowed, and then the boys heard the rush of the river.
“We’re getting there!” Don shouted. “Look out there!” as he peered out of the hole. “There’s the river, and there’s the old mine, and there’s the shelf of rock above which they saw the sunburst!”
“That’s all right,” grumbled Clay, “but if we drop out of this hole we’ll fall into the river. The door to this blooming cave doesn’t open out on the shelf! And it isn’t a very big door at that!”
“I’ll bet we’re in the mine!” cried Don.
“No wonder it was never found, then, if people had to reach it the way we did!” Clay exclaimed. “Say!” he went on, in a moment, “let me get to that opening again. I wonder if we can’t climb up out of it! I’ve seen such places! The shelf seems to be only a few feet away, and we may be able to gain it if we can creep on a wall like flies!”
“I can!” Don laughed. “Let me get out and show you!”
But Clay was half out of the narrow entrance, clinging to points of rock with his fingers, digging his toes into crevices which were too shallow for much of a hold.
“Can you make it?” Don called out, anxious and afraid for his chum.