CHAPTER XXII.
AN UNEXPECTED ALLY.
A little in front of the lads, and to their left, a slab of rock jutted out from the side of the passage.
From behind this suddenly emerged a tall, gaunt figure. It was no less a personage than Kyle Sparwick.
No doubt Sparwick had also seen the snapping eyes, and it was this which had scared him from his hiding-place.
A low, savage growl rang through the cavern. Sparwick uttered a yell, and dashed forward. In his terror, he probably thought only of flight.
But the glare of the candle led him astray, and he collided blindly with Jerry. Both came to the rocky floor with a crash, and each imagined that the other had attacked him.
The two rolled over and over, locked in a tight embrace, and uttering hoarse cries. Jerry had dropped the rifle; nor could he reach for it, since his hands were needed for other purposes.
With one fist Sparwick pounded his antagonist on the face and breast. Jerry warded off the blows as well as he could, and tried to return them.