“Yes, but where did the voice come from?”
“It sounded to me as if it came from below us, somewhere.”
Dick and Tom dropped down on their knees, and peered downward, and Dick called out, loudly:
“In the cave,” came back to their ears, in a muffled, faint voice. “In behind the earth that has closed up the entrance to the cave.”
“Well, that is queer!” exclaimed Tom. “Somebody was in the cave when the bank caved off, and is a prisoner there.”
“We must get down there on top of the ledge, and dig an opening.”
“That’s right. I guess we can get down there. Let’s try it, anyhow.”
They began making their way down the side of the creek-bank. It was now slightly sloping, and there were projections and indentations sufficient to give them foothold, and presently they stood on the top of the heap of earth that had lodged on the ledge. They looked to see if they could see any signs of the entrance, and near the top of the pile of dirt they found a small opening, which they judged was near the top wall of the cave itself. Dick placed his mouth close to the little opening and called out:
“Yes,” was the reply. And then in an eager voice came the query: “Is that you, Dick?”
Dick uttered an exclamation of amazement. “Great Guns, Tom,” he cried. “I believe that is Ben, in there!”
“What!” exclaimed Tom. “Why, I left him at the encampment.”
“Yes. How did you get here, Dick? I supposed you were a prisoner.”
“Good! I was hunting him when I got into this predicament.”
“We’ll soon have you out of there, Ben. We’ll dig from the outside, and you dig from the inside, and we’ll soon have an opening big enough for you to crawl through.”
“What!” exclaimed Dick. “How did that happen?”
“I was captured by some redcoats, but managed to break away and took to my heels. They chased me, and I fell over the edge of the creek-bank, and landed on the ledge and rolled into the cave, and just then the bank caved off and the dirt closed up the opening. I was just wondering how I was ever to get out of here. I guess it is lucky for me that you boys happened along here.”
“I judge you are right, for you could not have dug a hole through the dirt with your hands tied. Tom and I will soon have an opening though that you can crawl through, however.”