ground, that he was "off soundings." Several times he was forced to leap
over openings, or rents, similar to that into which he had stumbled, and
the broadening out of the cave made it out of his power to confine his
path to anything like reasonable limits. The appearance of unexpected
obstructions directly in his way compelled numerous detours, with the
inevitable result of disarranging the line he intended to pursue, and
causing his course to be a zigzag one of the most marked character.

There were no landmarks to afford him the least guidance. In short, he was
like the ill-fated steamer caught on a dangerous coast by an impenetrable
fog, where no observations can be made, and the captain is compelled to
"go it blind." He was forcibly reminded of this difficulty by unexpectedly
finding himself face to face with the side of the cavern. When he thought
that he was pursuing the right direction, here was evidence that he was at
least going at right angles, and, to all intents and purposes, he might as
well have been going in exactly the opposite course.

"Well, things are getting mixed," he exclaimed, more amused than
frightened at this discovery. "I never tramped over such a place before,
and if I ever get out of this, I'll never try it again."

But there was little cause for mirth, and when he had struggled an hour
longer, something like despair began to creep into his heart. Worse than
all, he became aware that his torch was nearly exhausted, and, under the
most favorable circumstances, could not last more than an hour longer.

While toiling in this manner, he had continued to signal to Mickey in his
usual manner, but with no other result than that of awakening the same
deafening din of echoes. By this time he was utterly worn out. He had been
traveling for hours, or, rather, working, for nearly every step was