n earthquake to the frightened boys. They dropped down on

asked Jerry, i

" whisper

"But we may be killed any mi

s fallen right across the ravine. Luckily it hit the rock instead o

over the door. Sure enough, a couple of bushy, green limbs

trunk of the tree is on the rock. If it had fallen a litt

ever," said Hamp, as he presse

ick. "It don't wobble one

you what, fellows, this accident is the best thing that could have happened to us. The cabin is as solid

e, and the boys were vas

nd provisions here," said Bri

"But we've got to be up and doing. First, we'll have

ld air penetrated to the cabin. The boys plugged up the hole,

he tunnel,

ngerly unbuttoned the flap

poked it out through the hole above. Finally the excavation was th

said Jerry. "I can't poke any more out, for

is so light that I can pack it under me and against the sides. It's nice and w

rry. "You can strike matches on t

his voice had a ho

ome in and help

fellows were working, we would surely ha

of bark, with which he patted down the snow in front of him and slapped it against the sides of the tunnel. He could hear, as though from a great distance, the ceasel

e the fact. At any moment might come disaster in the shape of a cave-in or

two or three feet to the right of this lay a flat stone, on which the boys had frequently sat while cooking the meals. Straigh

tretch out his arms and legs to their fullest e

t the snow with both hands. Yes, he had found the fireplace. One by one he lifted the charred embers of wood. Here was th

caused him to abandon the rash design. He turned to the right, and went on with the excavation. Hope made the time pass quickly, and he was surprised when he struck the flat stone.

beyond the stone. He could barely kick it with his heels when

body. He knew what had happened, and threw himself convulsively forward. He cleared the fal

elling how far back

ve-in surely can't reach farther than the stone. This time I'll ma

his hands and knees. He described a complete revolution, ge

n his mind, Hamp felt that he would give much to be able to kick himself. In truth,

d not the least idea in which direction lay the cabin or

nowdrift, that might collapse