The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-09-07


under their blankets. When
Briant came out he said: There
must be a cavity there with an
opening at the foot of the cliff. !"
Where animals probably take
shelter during the night" cried
Gordon. -,
"That must be it," said Doni
phan, Tomorrow we'll look
around carefully"
At that moment, sharp barking
and bowling came from the In
terror of the rock.
could that be Phann in there
fighting an animal?" cried VII
cox,
Briant, back in the tunnel
could hear no further sound. But
now there was no doubt that an
other excavation existed which
must communicate with the ex
terror, probably by some hole in
the thick underbrush at the base
Of the cliff.
Night went by without hoWlS or
banks being heard again. At dawn
the search was renewed, but with
no result.
Briant and Baxter again began
to dig. During the morning the
tunnel gained almost two feet in
depth. Several times they stopped
and listened, but heard nothing
more. Every precaution was taken
in case a push of the spade should
open the partition and give pas
sage to an animal. The little ones
were kept on the river bank. Guns
and reVolvers in hand, Donlphan,
Wilcox and Webb were ready for
any eventuality.
About 2 o'clock, Briant gave a
cry. His pick had gone right
through the chalky wall which
had given way and left a large
opening. Briant rejoined his com
rades Immediately. They did not
know what to think! But before
he had time to open his mouth,
something rapidly slid along the
wall of the tunnel and an animal
jumped into the cave at one
bound.
It was Phann!
Yes! Phann, who ran to a pail
of water and drank greedily.
Then, his tail frisking, and show
ing no anger, he jumped around
Gordon. So there was nothing to
fear.
Briant took a beacon into the
tunnel. Gordon, Doniphan, Will
cox, Baxter and Moko followed.
An instant later they went
through the opening made by the
falling of the chalky wall and
found themselves in the middle
of an excavation in which no day
light penetrated.
This cave was the same height
and width as French Den, but
much deeper. The floor, covered
by a fine sand, was about so
square yards. There did not seem
to be an entrance. But since the
beacon burned brightly, the air
must come in by some opening.
Otherwise, how could Phann have
got inside?
At that moment, Wilcox kicked
body, stiff and cold.
Briant came close with the
beacon.
CHAPTER XIX
"It's jackal which Phann must
have killed."
Eyes! A jackal!" cried Baxter.
That's the explanation of the
noises" said Gordon.
But, if jackalS had made this
cave their shelter, how did they
get in? That they must discover
at all cost.
Briant went out to the cliff on
the side Of the lake. He called
loudly several times and at last
was answered by cries from the
interior. In this way he diScov-
cred a narrow opening in the
underbrush through which the
jackals must have slid. The boys
soon found that after Phann had
followed the jackal, a small slide
occurred and closed the opening.
That explained everything: the
howlings of the jackal, the, bark
ings of the imprisoned dog. What
a satisfaction it was to have
Phann back, and what a lot of
work spared! Here was a vast
cave already made" a cave Of
which the shipwrecked Baudoin
had never suspected the existence.
Ito Be Continued
Translation from the original "Deux
Ans de Vacances." copyright, 1885, by
Celesta Hamer-Jackson; distributed by
King Features Syndicate, Inc.