“Perhaps they fell into this place and couldn’t get out again,” suggested Shep, gloomily.

Snap had obtained a long stick and with this he was poking at the ceiling in various spots.  He worked with care, and the others watched him with interest.

“There, look at that!” he cried, presently.  “The stick has gone through into something!”

He withdrew the stick as he concluded, and the boys saw a single ray of light shoot down upon them.  All sprang to the opening quickly.

“There is daylight there, that is sure!” cried Whopper, and his voice had a ring of hope in it.  “Let us dig away a little dirt and see what comes of it.”

All were willing, and they poked at the dirt with care, using such sticks as they could find for the purpose.  At first the ground came away slowly, but soon Snap noticed several cracks.

“Look out there!” he cried.  “Something is coming down!  Get back!”

All leaped out of danger and the next moment down came a mass of dirt, rocks and brushwood, scattering in all directions.  The downfall left a hole all of two yards in diameter, and they could easily look out on the sky.

“Hurrah!” cried Whopper.  “This is how the young hunters escape from their underground dungeon cell!”

The fall of the dirt and rocks had left a mound on the center of the cave floor, and by mounting this they were enabled to pull themselves to the earth’s surface.  It is safe to say that never were boys more delighted to get out of a hole.

“After this I am going to be careful where I step,” said Shep.  “First it was a hollow tree and then this cave.  Maybe the next time I won’t get out at all,” and he gave a little shiver.

CHAPTER XVI

A SUCCESSFUL DEER HUNT

While they were in the cave all thought concerning the deer had been vanished, but now they were at liberty once more the four young hunters were just as eager as ever to get a shot at the game.

“We must hurry if we want to do anything,” said Snap.  “It is such a gloomy day that it will be dark soon and then the deer will surely give us the slip.”

On they went, up the mountainside, but now taking care that they should go into no more caves.  Thus several hundred feet were covered.  Then of a sudden, Snap held up his hand.

“Hark!”

All listened and heard a crashing in the brushwood.  Like a flash, five deer leaped into view, rushing across a small opening.  They saw the boys and were out of sight again in a twinkling, before a gun could be raised at them.

“Why didn’t you shoot?” cried Shep to Snap.

“Why didn’t you?”

“I didn’t have my gun ready,” came from Whopper.

“Neither did I,” added Giant.

The four young hunters gazed at each other sheepishly enough.  Their long tramp had been all in vain.