Now he was down on his knees; then clambering up again; then banging
against the rocks--still onward, until he found himself flat on his face,
still holding to his support, while the wolf was clutching and clawing to
get away. They were in such a narrow passage way that Fred could not rise.
Unclasping one hand, he held on with the other, while he worked along
after him. For a long time this savage scratching, struggling and toiling
continued, and then, all at once, Fred was dazzled by the overpowering
flood of light.

He had escaped from the cave in the mountain, and was in the outside world
again.




CHAPTER IV.

SUNLIGHT AND HOPE.


By clinging to the tail of the terrified wolf, Fred Munson had been
assisted, dragged, and pulled from the Cimmerian gloom of the mountain
cave into the glorious sunlight again. When the glare of light burst upon
him, he let go of the queer aid to freedom, and the mystified animal
skurried away with increased speed.

For a time the lad was so dazed and bewildered that he scarcely
comprehended his good fortune. His eyes had been totally unaccustomed to
light for so long a time that the retina was overpowered by the sudden
flood of it and required time to accommodate itself to the new order of