For some moments they stood quite still, staring helplessly at this wall.
Suddenly a shriek burst from the lips of Ridgeway.
"Doomed!" he cried. "No escape! I feel the mountain collapsing! The walls are crowding in upon us! It's the end! Oh, for just one more breath of free air! For just one more sight of the world outside!"
With that cry, he dropped flat on his face and lay still, as if death had come to claim him, also.
"Get up!" harshly ordered Del Norte, again kicking the man. "Get up, or I'll leave you here alone. I am going back."
Why he desired to return to what had once been the mouth of the cave he could not tell, for there he would be no nearer liberty than in his present position.
The smoke from the torch was filling the place and making the air foul.
"We'll smother in a little while!" thought the Mexican. "It's a wonder we have not smothered already."
Again he kicked his companion and called for him to rise.
Ridgeway lifted his head and stared with terrible eyes at his comrade in misery.