A cry of horror burst simultaneously from the lips of Frank Reade, Jr., and Professor Gaston.
“My soul!” cried the young inventor. “My fears are realized! Barney is lost!”
They lost no time, but started at once for the spot.
Reaching the foot of the slide, Frank saw the explanation of Barney’s disappearance.
There, in the surface of the slide, was a yawning hole. The ice in this spot was thin and had covered a pit, into which the unlucky Celt had fallen.
With the aid of his pike, Frank crawled to the edge of the hole and looked in.
What he beheld gave him an awful, horrified chill.
“My God!” he cried, wildly, “Barney has gone to his death!”
“Don’t say that!” cried Gaston. “Can we not pull him out of that awful hole?”
“No,” replied Frank, sadly. “Barney is beyond earthly aid!”