"I haven't touched—Val, do—do you feel worse?"
But he had no thought now for his body. If Ricky had not dropped the money, then what had caused the clink? He ground his cheek against the clay. Thud, thud, clink, thud. That was not water dripping nor coin rattling. That was the sound of digging. And digging meant—
"Ricky! They're digging! I can hear them!"
Her fingers closed about his free hand until the nails dug into the flesh. "Where?"
"I don't know. Listen!"
The sound had grown in strength until now, though muffled, it sounded through that part of the passage still remaining open.
"It comes from this end. From behind that wall. But why should it come from there?"
"Does it matter? Val, do you suppose they could hear me if I pounded on the wall at this side?"
"You haven't anything heavy enough to pound with."
"Yes, I have. This package thing that you found. It's quite heavy. Val, we've got to let them know we're here!"