CHAPTER XXVI.
THE CAVE ON THE ISLAND "Tom!" "Sam!" "Are you safe ?" "Yes, but I wasn't looking for such a cold bath as this." "I guess we must have fallen into a regular well of spring water." "Never mind what we are in.

The question is, how are we to get out ?" "Can you touch the top of the opening ?" "No." "Neither can I." Luckily the two boys could touch the bottom of the hole, so they were in no danger of drowning.

They were in water up to their waists and calculated they had dropped a distance of two or three yards.

All was pitch dark around them and as silent as a tomb, save for some water which trickled close at hand.

The bats had departed, leaving them to their fate.
"This is cave-investigating with a vengeance," said Tom, with something like a shiver.
"Never mind, Tom, we won't die of thirst anyway." "Do you think this is a laughing matter, Sam ?" "No, I don't.