"But we didn't," grinned Tommy. "We thought we had a cinch on getting
out by way of this cord and so we followed that. I don't see,
though," he continued, "how we came back to this same old chamber by
following the cord. That looks queer to me!"

"I'll tell you how!" replied Sandy. "There's some gink been walking
on ahead of us stringing the cord out for us to follow!"

Tommy sat down on the bottom of the chamber and wrinkled his freckled
nose provokingly.

"We're a couple of easy marks!" he laughed.

"Easy marks is no name for, it!"

"Well, what'll we do now to get out?" Tommy asked. "First thing we
know, it'll be daylight, and then Will and George'll be calling out
the police to find us. We ought to get home before they wake."

"I'm willing!" declared Sandy. "I'd like to be in my little bed this
minute! I've had about enough of this foul air!"

The boys passed along until they came to the second trail sign and
then stopped. Tommy pointed down to it with a hand which was not
quite steady and looked up into his chum's face with frightened eyes.

"That's been moved!" he said.

"How do you know it's been moved?"