There was a dull, rattling whack beside me; bits of coal flew in all directions. Hawkins had landed.
“Well!” he exclaimed, sitting up. “I honestly believe, Griggs, that no man was ever born on this earth with less resourcefulness than yourself!”
“Which means that I should have climbed out and informed the people of your plight?”
“Certainly.”
“Well, you try it yourself, Hawkins.”
The inventor arose and started for the door with a very convincing and elaborate display of indomitable energy. He planted his left foot firmly on the side of the coal pile—and found that his left leg had disappeared in the coal in a highly astonishing and undignified fashion.
“Humph!” he remarked disgustedly, struggling free and shaking something like a pound of coal dust from his person. “Perhaps—perhaps it's more solid on the other side.”
“Try it.”
“Well, it is better to try it and fail than to stand there like a cigar-store Indian and offer fool suggestions!” snapped the inventor, making a vicious attack at the opposite side of the pile.
It really did seem more substantial. Hawkins, by the aid of both hands, both feet, his elbows, his knees, and possibly his teeth as well, managed to scramble upward for a dozen feet or so.