CHAPTER XVII IN THE CAVE
The cave was an irregular one of uncertain depth. The opening lay undera big, jagged rock, with other rocks on either side. One after anotherthey passed into the underground chamber without much trouble.
"It's rather dark," said Jack. "Hadn't we better light a torch?"
"By all means," said the teacher, and went out and got a pine branch.This burnt very well, although it made quite some smoke. They advancedwith caution, for the cave was not very high and nobody wanted to strikehis head on the sharp rocks above. In some places the tree-roots hungdown like so many snakes.
"By the way, I wonder if there are any snakes in here?" observed Dale,when from under a rock glided a reptile about two feet long, followed byanother a trifle smaller. Dale let out a yell and retreated, and so didthe other boys.
"They are harmless," called out George Strong. "They are commonwood-snakes. See, they have crawled out of sight already. They are morescared than you are."
"I must say I hate snakes," said Jack. "I am willing to leave them aloneif only they will leave me alone."
"The trouble is, most folks know very little about snakes," said theteacher. "Why, a snake can be made a great pet, just like a cat or adog, or a bird. Many snake-charmers really make pets of their snakes."
"Excuse me, I'd rather have a dog or a bird any day," said Dale.
"Or even an old tomcat," put in Pepper.
The cave was not very wide, indeed it seemed to be merely a split in therocks and dirt. In one spot the tree-roots were so thick the party hadto literally force its way along.
"Be careful," came in a warning from George Strong. "Don't get stuck sotight that you can't get out again."
"I'll look out for that," said Pepper who was in advance.
Presently they reached a spot where the cave divided into three parts.At the bottom of one part flowed a spring of clear, cold water.
"This is fine!" declared Dale, after taking a drink.
"Look out that you don't swallow a lizard," said Jack.
"I can tell you what," declared Pepper, gazing around by the light ofthe smoky torch, "this would make quite a retreat if it was cleanedout."
At last they could go no further and began to retrace their steps. Atone point they had to crawl over some rocks and under some tree-roots.
"Wonder if I can push the tree up?" cried Dale, by way of a joke, andpressed upward with his back.
"Take care!" cried George Strong, "You may loosen something and gethurt."
"The rock is shifting!" yelled Jack. "Look out!"
There was a grinding, and all saw that a rock above them was settlingdown. The teacher, Jack, and Pepper ran in one direction and Dale inanother.
An awful noise followed, and the loose dirt flew in all directions. Fora minute all were greatly confused.
"Are you boys hurt?" was the first question asked by the assistantteacher.
"I'm all right," said Pepper.
"So am I," added Jack.
"Where is Dale?"
"He slipped back, the way he had come."
"Dale! Dale!" shouted the teacher. No answer came back to the summons.
"Perhaps he was killed!" gasped Pepper.
"Oh, don't say that," came from Jack. "Dale! Dale!" he went on loudly.
Still there was no answer, and now all became thoroughly alarmed. GeorgeStrong moved over to the rock that had fallen and examined it with care.
"I don't believe he is under this," he said. "But he may be caught insome way on the other side."
"How are we to get at him?" was the question from Pepper.
The torch was dying down and Jack had to work his way out of the caveand find a new pine bough for a light.
"Maybe we can get at him from the top," suggested Jack. "There seemed tobe quite a cave-in there."
"I will look," said the teacher.
All hurried outside and to the spot the young major had noticed. Theground was much sunken.
"He is literally buried alive!" cried George, Strong. "We must dig himout, and be quick about it!"
They went at the stones and dirt with vigor, yet taking care that noadditional cave-in should result. All they had to work with was a trowelGeorge Strong had brought along and their hands, but despite thisdrawback they made fair progress.
"I see a hole!" cried Jack, after five minutes of hard work.
"Be careful!" cautioned George Strong again. "Call down to Dale."
The young major did so, but still there was no answer. The hole wasincreased in size until it was big enough to admit the passage of ahuman form. Then the torch was flared below.
"I see him!" said Jack. "He is flat on his back."
"Does he seem to be caught by the rocks?"
"No."
The teacher took a look and then ordered that the hole be made a littlelarger.
"I will lower myself to him," said George Strong. "Then I will pass himup to you."
He disappeared into the hole and took the torch with him. Presently hecalled out, and then they saw him lifting up Dale's limp form. Theycaught hold of their chum's body and drew it to a place of safety.
"He seems to be knocked unconscious," said Jack, soberly.
They assisted the teacher to the surface above the cave, and then allthree turned their attention to Dale. There was a lump on theunconscious boy's head and a scratch on his chin.
"Get some water and we'll bathe him," said George Strong, and this wasdone, and presently Dale opened his eyes.
"Take it away!" he murmured. "It's too heavy for me!"
"You're all right, Dale," said Jack. "You're safe." And then Dale staredaround him.
"Wha--what did you say?" he stammered. "Oh, my head!" And he put up hishand.
"You are safe," said the teacher.
"Didn't that rock come down on me?"
"It came pretty close to you. It must have grazed your head, and that iswhat made you unconscious."
"And how--how did I get here?"
"We dug you out," said Pepper.
"Oh!" And for the time being the suffering youth said no more.
They continued to bathe his face and wrists, and presently he said hefelt better. But George Strong made him wait half an hour beforestanding on his feet.
"I'm a bit dizzy and light-headed, but that's all," declared Dale, whenthey finally set out for Putnam Hall. "Say, I reckon I had a narrowescape, didn't I?"
"You did," answered the teacher.
"Weren't you caught at all?"
"No."
"That's what I get for trying to lift up a tree," pursued Dale, with asorry little grin. "No more such foolishness for me!"
They took their time about getting back, and it was long after thesupper hour when the academy was reached. George Strong explainedmatters to Captain Putnam and they had the meal in private.
"That was certainly quite an adventure," remarked Jack.
"Yes, and one I shouldn't wish to experience again," answered Dale. "Ishan't go into another cave in a hurry, take my word on that!"
"I wonder if the cave was ever used for anything?" asked Pepper.
"I do not think so," returned George Strong. "It was merely a split inthe rocks, probably caused by a landslide."