"Yes, for the time being," said the old man. "I'm all played out. I
guess we all are. We must have a rest. Here's a sort of cave. Let's
crawl in and have a sleep. Then maybe we can do something to-morrow--
no, not to-morrow, for they don't have that on the moon, where the day
is fourteen days long--but after we sleep we may be able to find our
way back. Anyhow, I've got to get some sleep," and without another word
the old hunter went into the cave, and, fixing his life-torch near his
head, where the fumes from it would dissipate the poisonous gases of
the moon, he closed his eyes, and was soon in slumber.

"I--I guess we'd better do the same," said Jack, and Mark nodded. They
were both sick at heart.




CHAPTER XXV

THE PETRIFIED CITY


For a time, after they had entered the cave, which was in the side of a
rugged mountain, the boys talked in low tones of their perilous
situation. For that it was perilous they both knew. Had they been on
the earth, lost in some desolate part of it, away from civilization,
their plight, would have been bad enough with what little food they
possessed.

But on the far-off moon--the dead moon, which contained no living
creatures save themselves, as far as they could tell--with no form of