Frank Hardy glanced up just in time to notice the pale flicker of light, before it disappeared from view.

"Finally! We're getting somewhere!" he exulted.

The two boys had stopped to take a breather from their exertions and decided to break into their supply of water as well. Frank had been digging around in his pack for the container with life giving fluid when he'd heard TJ's awed whisper. Water forgotten, they stared at the spot on the wall where the brief flash had been moments before. Strain their eyes as they might, they could not make it return. Still, they had seen it; the light was no illusion. Or was it?

Hastening to place their canteens away again, they strapped their daypacks back on and gripped their lights in hand. The chasm that they travelled in had narrowed considerably from earlier, and now sloped slightly upwards. Regardless, the brief spark of hope caused the two boys to ignore this fact as they pressed onward. Now as the muscles in his legs strained with his increased pace, Frank voiced this observation.

"We're going up now, and the it's getting narrower. I think we'll come out of this passage pretty soon. Anyways, we'll have to; if it keeps up with this trend, Chet would mistake us for left overs from breakfast when we walked back into camp tonight."

******

Chet at this time wasn't thinking of breakfast; it had been quite a while earlier, and too many other pressing matters fought for preeminence in his mind. Like survival, for instance. He trailed close to his chums as they pressed onward in their search for freedom. Gotta get out of here!

Trailing the beam of Joe's flashlight, Biff ventured to voice something that had been bothering them all. "How do we keep from getting caught again when we have absolutely no idea where we're going?" Joe continued walking, slowly sweeping his light across the tunnel. He found himself wishing he were back at camp with Frank, laughing and messing around with their chums. Even to have Frank with him here, although he was certainly grateful for Chet and Biff. "Good night! Frank's going to be frantic when we don't show up." He slapped his forhead theatrically, and earned a chuckle from Biff. Chet was trying too hard to catch his breath.

"Hey Joe, turn off the light for a minute." Joe complied and Biff tapped him on the shoulder. "See that? It looks like we're headed back into the inhabited portion of the cave." Chet snorted, finally able to breath easier, as they stopped for a moments respite. "Brilliant Sherlock."

"Leave my dog out of this!" Biff nearly bellowed, but remembered to keep his voice toned down. Chet raised his eyebrow (which of course couldn't be seen in the dark), and kept silent. When no one else said anything for five minutes, he decided to find out what was going on. "Um Joe, Biff?" No answer.

******

Meanwhile, further inside of the cave, Frank and TJ had come to a slight impasse. The way had narrowed down to almost the point where it adjoined a turning, and seemed almost impossible to navigate. Seemed would be the appropriate word. Frank was determined to see himself out into the sunshine again. No way he was going to leave it to chance that Joe might happen to stumble across the cave and effect a rescue. He was the best brother you could ever ask for, but he wasn't Superman.

In the beam of the flashlight that he held, the boy could see that the way blocked by the way the the wall moved to the inside of the passage. At first glance, the cause might have looked hopeless, but Frank wasn't one to do many things briefly, including turning down your only escape route. Further examination revealed that the passage was slanted from the bottom up, leaving a wider opening towards the top. Making some quick mental calculations, the elder Hardy reasoned that they might be able to cross by bracing themselves against both walls and inching across - provided that they could get high enough in the passage.

Strapping his pack on backwards, he pressed his back against one side, and his hands on the opposite wall. The passage was open wider at the top, and with a boost from TJ, Frank wriggled up the wall to where he could brace himself at a slight angle with his feet. Once up, he began to wriggle sideways towards the corner. Reaching it, he took his light from his pack and shined it down the way. Gratefully it widened further out. Turning his head back he nodded to his companion, who had been lighting the way for him from the other side. Frank dropped from his position to the floor and hoped that TJ would be able to navigate the way.

It took a while, but after an excruciating several tries, TJ was up on the wall and moving across the same way that Frank had. He finally dropped down on the far side as well, and Frank led them out of the narrow passage into a much wider one. "Let's stop here for a minute, I've got to get some water."

It's amazing how precious a commodety becomes when it isn't readily available; and how grateful you find yourself when you have some of it. Frank silently thanked whatever providence reminded them to bring full canteens with them on this trek. As the life giving fluid moistened his chapped lips and dry throat, he savored the feeling. Carefully replacing the lid after downing a third of the contents, he replaced the canteen firmly inside of his pack. The zipper stubbornly stuck for a moment and he jerked it closed.

"Ready to hit to path again?" Frank hefted the lightweight pack in his hands and slung it over his shoulder again. TJ wearily nodded, and followed his example. Together they prepared to head up the path.

******

While Chet had been distracted by his own little world, Joe had silently began to move once again down the corridor. Biff stuck to him like a shadow on a sunny day. Unknowingly leaving their chum alone in the dark, they continued down the way towards the light.

Now, in the best of situations, Chet didn't like the thought of facing down crooks on his own. Alone in a dark cave, with no idea as to how to get out, and with no absolute knowledge of the whereabouts of either his chums or the bad guys - well, it was hardly Chester Morton's best case scenario. Steeling himself, he decided to continue in his present direction, probably there was an exit somewhere ahead - and Joe Hardy and Biff Hooper.

As quietly as possible, the chunky lad slipped down the now deserted corridor, reaching the end after a journey of only a few moments, though to him it seemed a lifetime. The soft glowing came from a row of flourescent bulbs overhead, and in its glow, he noted the stacks of boxes against the far wall. There was room behind them, and between them to hide, if necessary. Shifting his weight, Chet continued to probe the shadows, trying to locate any life forms at all. It seemed there were none. Gingerly he eased himself from the doorway, moving steadily towards the stack of boxes.

Nothing else moved, and Chet sighed with relief when he reached the shadow between the stacks and the wall. "Now to find those other two, and get out of here!" he muttered to himself as he continued to inch forward in the narrow space. Hmm, maybe I shouldn't have had that last candy bar... He had to squeeze through now, the space was uneven, and was afraid that the boxes might shift and fall. But the space got wider again, and he stopped for a breather.

Suddenly the lights flashed on to the full, flooding the room brightly. Chet heard footsteps and suddenly felt afraid again. Crouching as far as the small space would permit, he tried to still the thumping of his heart.

Meanwhile, Biff and Joe had made their passage through the room, and were working their way up the passageway. "This has got to lead out of here! Come on fellows!" Joe's whisper cheered Biff up, and he gave a thumbs up, unseeable in the dark. "Alright! Finally!" Hearing nothing behind him, Biff turned. "Chet? You okay?" No answer. "Shoot! Joe, we lost Chet somewhere."

Joe paused and glanced behind him, uncertain. "We'll have to go back after him then. He shouldn't be too far behind." Swiftly he turned back, and his pal fell in step behind him. They were moving down into the room when a clatter of footsteps sounded from the passageway.

"Quick! We've got to find someplace to hide!"

Biff desperately crawled under a long workbench that ran the length of the room. With Joe following, the pressed on towards the far end, where several machines stood, blocking the view of the floorspace. Hopefully they could reach them before whoever it was reached the room. Then the lights came on...