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formed the entrance to the buried city。
Tom was the first to come to a realization of what was needed to be
done。
〃We must help them！〃 he exclaimed； and it was characteristic of him
that he harbored no enmity。
〃How？〃 asked Ned。
〃We must get a force of Indians and dig them out；〃 was the prompt
answer。
At Tom's vigorous words Professor Bumper's forces were energized
into action； and he stated： 〃Fortunately we have plenty of excavating tools。
We may be in time to save them。 Come on！ the storm seems to have
passed as suddenly as it came up； and the earthquake； which； after all did
not cover a wide area； seems to be over。 We must start the work of rescue
at once。 We must go back to camp and get all the help we can muster。〃
The storm； indeed； seemed to be over； but it was no easy matter to get
back over the soggy； rain…soaked ground to the trail they had left to take
shelter in the forest。 Fortunately the earthquake had not involved that
portion where they had left their mules； but most of the frightened animals
had broken loose； and it was some little time before they could all be
caught。
〃It is no use to try to get back to camp to… night；〃 said Tom； when the
last of the pack and saddle animals had been corralled。 〃It is getting late
and there is no telling the condition of the trail。 We must stay here until
morning。〃
〃But what about them？〃 and Mr。 Damon nodded in the direction of the
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entombed ones。
〃We can help them best by waiting until the beginning of a new day；〃
said the professor。 〃We shall need a large force； and we could not bring it
up to…night。 Besides； Tom is right； and if we tried to go along the trail
after dark； torn and disturbed as it is bound to be by the rain； we might get
into difficulties ourselves。 No； we must camp here until morning and
then go for help。〃
They all decided finally this was best。 The professor； too； pointed out
that their rivals were in a large and roomy cave； not likely to suffer from
lack of air nor food or water； since they must have supplies with them。
〃The only danger is that the cave has been crushed in；〃 added Tom；
〃but in that event we would be of no service to them anyhow。〃
The night seemed very long； and it was a most uncomfortable one；
because of the shock and exertions through which the party had passed。
Added to this was the physical discomfort caused by the storm。
But in time there was the light in the east that meant morning was at
hand； and with it came action。 A hasty breakfast； cups of steaming coffee
forming a most welcome part； put them all in better condition； and once
more they were on their way； heading back to the main camp where they
had left their force of Indians。
〃My！〃 exclaimed Tom； as they made their way slowly along； 〃it surely
was some storm！ Look at those big trees uprooted over there。 They're
almost as big as the giant redwoods of California； and yet they were
bowled over as if they were tenpins。〃
〃I wonder if the wind did it or the earthquake；〃 ventured Mr。 Damon。
〃No wind could do that；〃 declared Ned。 〃It must have been the
landslide caused by the earthquake。〃
〃The wind could do it if the ground was made soft by the rain； and that
was probably what did it；〃 suggested Tom。
〃There is no harm in settling the point；〃 commented Professor Bumper。
〃It is not far off our trail； and will take only a few minutes to go over to
the trees。 I should like to get some photographs to accompany an article
that perhaps I shall write on the effects of sudden and severe tropical
storms。 We will go to look at the overturned trees and then we'll hurry on
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to camp to get the rescue party。〃
The uprooted trees lay on one side of the mountain trail； perhaps a
mile from the mouth of the cave which had been covered over； entombing
the Beecher party。 Leaving the mules in charge of one of the Indians；
Professor Bumper and his friends； accompanied by Goosal； approached
the fallen trees。 As they neared them they saw that in falling the trees
had lifted with their roots a large mass of earth and imbedded rocks that
had clung to the twisted and gnarled fibers。 This mass was as large as a
house。
〃Look at the hole left when the roots pulled out！〃 cried Ned。 〃Why；
it's like the crater of a small volcano！〃 he added。 And； as they stood on
the edge of it looking curiously at the hole made； the others agreed with
Tom's chum。
Professor Bumper was looking about； trying to ascertain if there were
any evidences of the earthquake in the vicinity； when Tom； who had
cautiously gone a little way down into the excavation caused by the fallen
trees； uttered a cry of surprise。
〃Look！〃 he shouted。 〃Isn't that some sort of tunnel or underground
passage？〃 and he pointed to a square opening； perhaps seven feet high and
nearly as broad； which extended； no one knew where； downward and
onward from the side of the hole made by the uprooting of the trees。
〃It's an underground passage all right；〃 said Professor Bumper eagerly；
〃and not a natural one； either。 That was fashioned by the hand of man； if
I am any judge。 It seems to go right under the mountain； too。 Friends；
we must explore this！ It may be of the utmost importance！ Come； we have
our electric torches； and we shall need them； for it's very dark in there；〃
and he peered into the passage in front of which they all stood now。 It
seemed to have been tunneled through the earth； the sides being lined by
either slabs of stone； or walls made by a sort of concrete。
〃But what about the rescue work？〃 asked Mr。 Damon。
〃I am not forgetting Professor Beecher and his friends；〃 answered the
scientist。
〃Perhaps this may be a better means of rescuing them than by digging
them out； which will take a week at least；〃 observed Tom。
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〃This a better way？〃 asked Ned； pointing to the tunnel。
〃That's it；〃 co