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Show 102 Triumphantly Cap held the hose aloft. "We got us a torch now," he said. Now that they could see, Josh breathed easier. There was still the trapped feeling as the narrow tunnel seemed to press around them, but at least they were not in the dark now. With Chinook still leading along, they followed through a maze of tunnels, sometimes angling upward, sometimes down. At each turn they expected to emerge into an opening and the daylight. They passed lines of old ore cars and rusting machinery. Twice they had to crawl over piles of rock that had nearly filled the tunnel from old cave-ins. Each time they did so carefully, talking in whispers, lest they bring more rotting rock tumbling down upon them. Cap began to cast threatening glances at the dog, and Josh urged the animal on nervously. Was there no way from this honeycomb of caverns; Perhaps they were fated to die here, Josh told himself glumly, without anyone ever knowing where they had gone. He cast a critical eye at the rubber torch. It helped their spirits immensely-but how long would it last? Finally Chinook quickened his pace. As they rounded a turn, ahead they could see-brilliant as any diamond-the tiny opening of a tunnel mouth far ahead. With a shout the boys ran forward, nearly dashing out the flame in their hurry. Whooping, with Chinook barking as they hurried along, they at last scrambled out into the daylight. On the rubble of the dump, laughing and shouting with relief, they shaded their eyes against the brightness of the sun. It was morning, the sun already over the canyon wall and full upon them. |