Then he left the room, Juba being occupied in the kitchen. He secured his hat, as he would need it in case he effected his escape.
As he pa.s.sed through that apartment in the cave where there were trunks and boxes, it occurred to him to open one of them. He was rather surprised that it should be unlocked, but so it was.
It was filled with a miscellaneous a.s.sortment of articles, but on top, to his surprise and joy, he recognized the envelope containing the bonds that had been taken from him.
If he left the cave he would want these, and therefore he had no hesitation in taking them. He put them in the inside pocket of his vest, and kept on his way.
In a short time he reached the spot lighted by the aperture in the roof.
The opening was quite large enough for him to get through, but the difficulty was that it was fully fifteen feet above the floor of the cave. Ernest was something of a gymnast, but it was out of his power to reach the opening through which alone he could obtain deliverance.
He looked about him to see if there were any articles which he could pile upon one an other so as to attain the aperture. But the cave was quite empty of articles of any description, nor could he find any that he could move in the portions which he had already traversed.
It was certainly very aggravating to be so near freedom, and yet unable to obtain it. There just above him he could see the blue sky and the cheerful sunshine, while he was a prisoner in a dark cavern.
Was there no way of reaching the opening? he asked himself.
If he had to give up hope, he would feel obliged to return the envelope to the box from which he had taken it. Were its loss discovered, he would of course be searched, and kept in stricter seclusion than before.
In the room used by the outlaw as a sitting-room--the apartment he had just left--he might be able to find what he needed. But he could not remove anything without being detected, and should he return there he would possibly find Frank awake, which would spoil all.
It looked as if he would have to give up the chance that had come to him. In thoughtful mood he walked slowly back. All at once an idea struck him. In the room where the trunks and boxes were stored he had seen a long, stout rope. Could he do anything with it?
Looking up at the aperture, he noticed a jagged projection on one side.
"If I could attach the rope to that," he reflected, "I could draw myself up hand over hand till I reached the top, and then it would go hard if I didn"t get out."
With new hope in his heart, he retraced his steps rapidly till he reached the store-room.
He knew just where to look for the rope. He examined it carefully, and found it very stout and strong.
He took it back with him. Then making a loop at one end, he stood under the opening and threw it up as he would a la.s.so. He had to try a dozen times before he contrived to circle the projection with the loop.
Then pulling it taut, he began to climb hand over hand, as he had many a time done in sport. Now his deliverance depended upon it.
Slowly, foot by foot, he approached the opening, not knowing whether, even if he reached it, he would be able to draw himself through the hole.
CHAPTER XXI.
OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE FIRE.
Arrived at the opening, Ernest found that there was a trap-door which was ordinarily closed, but through some misadventure had been left open.
It was, however, a serious problem to draw himself up so as to profit by what he had already done.
Twice he failed, and nearly lost his grip on the rope. Then he caught hold of the projection from which the rope depended, and by a supreme effort he succeeded, helping himself by means of the trap-door, in emerging from his subterranean prison.
Stretching himself, he took a deep breath, and realized joyfully not only that he was free, but that he had recovered the valuable bonds of which he had been placed in charge.
He began to look around him, and tried to conjecture in what direction he must go to reach Lee"s Falls. He was quite at a loss, as he had been carried into the cave blindfolded. But help seemed to be at hand.
He saw at a little distance, rapidly approaching him, a man of middle height, whom he concluded to be a resident of some place in the vicinity.
"Can you tell me in what direction I must go to reach Lee"s Falls?" he asked.
The stranger paused and examined him sharply.
"So you want to go to Lee"s Falls?" he said.
"Yes, sir."
"Where do you come from?"
"From Emmonsville."
"Direct?"
"No."
"I saw you just now coming out of some opening in the earth."
This alarmed Ernest. He felt that he might be called upon to explain where he had been.
"Who is this man?" he asked himself. "Is he one who is likely to be in the confidence of the outlaws? If so, I have only got out of one sc.r.a.pe to fall into another."
He studied the face of the man with whom he was speaking, and to his dismay noted a resemblance to James Fox, who had captured him. He began to suspect that this was his brother.
Whether it was or not, Ernest deemed it politic to say as little as possible of his experiences, and of what he knew about the cave and its occupants.
"Yes," he answered quietly; "there seems to be a cave underneath. I found the trap door open, and went down, but I regretted it, for I found it difficult to get out again."
His new acquaintance eyed him scrutinizingly, as if to see whether he knew more than he was willing to reveal.
"So there is a cave underneath?" he said inquiringly.
"Yes."
"Have you any idea what it is used for?"
"I don"t think it is used at all. The room below seems empty."
The man regarded him fixedly.
"When did you leave Emmonsville?" he asked abruptly.
"Yesterday," answered Ernest in some confusion.
"How does it happen that you have got no farther on your way to Lee"s Falls?"