"Can't afford a vacation," returned Russ, grimly.
But when he did halt for a moment, to get his breath, there came from outside the cave a sound that sent all their hearts to beating joyfully for it was the voice of some calling:
"Where are you? Where are you? Alice! Ruth!"
"Oh, it's daddy!" cried the girls together, and then Russ took up the refrain, shouting:
"We're in the cave! Get axes and chop us out! We've only got our knives!"
"We'll be with you in a moment!" said another voice, which they recognized as that of Mr. Macksey. "We'll have to go for a couple of axes!"
And then, as the hunter started back to Elk Lodge, Mr. DeVere, who remained outside the ice cave, explained through a crevice in the ice wall that made conversation possible how, becoming uneasy at the failure of his daughters to return, he had set out, in company with Mr. Macksey to look for them.
In their turn Ruth and Alice, with occasional words from Russ and Paul, told how they had become imprisoned.
"Are you hurt?" asked Mr. DeVere, anxiously.
"Not a bit of it, but we're awfully cold, Daddy," replied Alice.