Suddenly Percy Simmons gave a cry of triumph.
“Look! See there, Hardware, old boy, isn’t that a crack or fissure in the rock?”
“Sure enough,” responded his companion, who had just time to notice the crack in the rock wall of their prison before the light of the match died out.
“Maybe we can get out that way,” sputtered Persimmons, all agog at the thought that a means of escape had been opened to them.
“Perhaps we can, but it looks pretty narrow,” responded Hardware dubiously. “Anyhow, it’s worth trying. Strike another match and we’ll have a good look at it.”
A second inspection showed the boys that the fissure, though narrow, was sufficiently wide for them to squeeze into in all probability. Although in the event that it grew smaller further on, they would be as badly off as before. Still, as Harry Ware had said, it was worth trying, and the two boys clambered off the body of the unfortunate pony and began forcing their way into the fissure. Harry Ware went first and Percy Simmons, who was stouter, followed close behind.
For a distance of some five feet they managed to forge ahead. But suddenly Persimmons gave a grunt.
“I’m stuck, Harry, I can’t get any further.”
“Too bad; I guess we’ll have to turn back,” Hardware started to say, when he gave a cry of delight.