“I thought of this just now,” said Revel, “and came up to look again. I discovered it at the time you came after us to escape in the canoes. Now that that chance is gone, here’s another. What do you think of it?”
“One man workin’ outside, where thar’s room, mout, in two hours, make the place big enough for us to creep out,” said Rhodan. “To git outside—thet’s the hull question. One on us mout try it.”
“What is?”
Turning they saw Mace and Goodbrand, who had crept up. The matter was at once explained.
“If one could git out, what chances ’ud thar be to work ’ithout bein’ seen or heard? Thet’s the second question,” said Mace.
“The side we’re lookin’ through is opposite the spot whar the reds ’ll be likely to keep any sort of watch. Besides, they’ve jist filled up the hole above us, so, if one on us could git outside unseen, thar’d be a chance. An’ it seems as ’ough one might. Let us get down an’ consider the chances.”
They returned into the chamber, meeting the others, to whom was communicated what had been discovered. Instantly they began to devise some expedient by which one might leave the subterranean region, and what one of them should undertake the desperate feat.
Goodbrand insisted on having the task. His color, and readiness with the Indian tongue, caused his request to be unanimously granted. But now, how was he to steal out without it being known by the waiting enemy?
“Thar’s no airthly way but to move up an’ engage the reds in a skirmish,” said Scarred Eagle. “We must do it in such a way that Goodbrand can slip noiselessly into the water an’ swim for it. He’ll hev tu turn to the right of the entrance an’ endivor to git a chance to draw himself up on the rocks. Ef he kin manage that far, the rest’ll be easier.”
“Thar’s another thing,” said Brom. “What can he carry to work with?”