"Those rascals meant to burn us up!"
"They were afraid we knew too much about their affairs."
"They ought to go to jail for this, and Dan Baxter with them."
"I wish we were out of this passageway and could find the rest of our crowd."
"We must find a way out."
This was easier said than done. They went on once more, and soon, without warning, stepped into water up to their knees.
"Back!" cried Dick, who was in advance. "We don't want to get drowned. That would be as bad as being burnt up."
"We can swim," answered Tom as he scrambled back.
"True, but I want to know where I am swimming to, don't you?"
Tom got out his waterproof match safe and found that it contained just one match. This was lit, and then he set fire to some leaves from a notebook in his pocket. By this light, they saw another turn of the passageway, leading upward.
"That must be a way out," exclaimed Tom, and started in the direction, followed by his brother.
"Now, go slow," warned Dick when they were
