For half-a-dozen yards it remained level. Then it dropped at a steep angle for almost an equal distance, meanwhile growing more and more narrow. Ah! here was the termination at last—not a hopeless wall of rock, but a mass of soft, powdery snow. This was a sure promise of deliverance. What could snow mean but that the outer world was close at hand?
“We are saved!” cried Jerry, as he placed the candle firmly on the floor of the passage.
“Yes, saved!” echoed Hamp, in a broken, husky voice.
“Derned if we ain’t,” declared Sparwick. “Dig, youngsters; dig.”
He dropped on his hands and knees, and started in.
The boys helped him from each side. They tore furiously at the soft snow, crushing it down as they advanced.
The tunnel grew deeper and deeper.
Suddenly, the light crust overhead broke of its own weight. All sprang erect, threshing out with their arms. They found themselves in the open air, and facing a level stretch of pine forest.
Behind them was the rugged hillside, under which lay the cavern. They were simply speechless with the joy of that first moment of freedom. They inhaled long, deep breaths of the frosty air. Twilight was just falling. It was not yet so dark but that a glimpse could be had through the trees of the misty, distant surface of Chesumcook Lake.
But hunger and cold were quick to assert their sway.