Arriving on a big broad cake,--which, for a wonder, lay flat side up,--we paused to reconnoitre.
"Don't see any thing of 'em," said the captain.
"Gone, I'll bet my musket!" said Kit disappointedly.

"More'n a league away by this time, I'll warrant you." "Doubt if the old man touched 'em!" said Hobbs.
"Guess he suspected as much!" laughed the captain.

"Perhaps that was why he wouldn't come." "But we haven't half searched yet!" exclaimed Wade, pushing out along the edge of a tilted-up fragment, and jumping across to another.
As he jumped the ticklish cake tipped, slid back, and toppled over into a great chasm to the right with a tremendous crash and spattering,--for there was water at the bottom,--Wade barely saving himself.

Almost at the same instant, I thought I heard a low growl not far off.
"Hark!" exclaimed Kit.

"Wasn't that the bear ?" "Sounded like one!" muttered the captain.