“That is all I can see. Wait till I dig over it where there is a bit of dirt.”
Oliver went to digging vigorously. But with his bare hands it was slow work, and he was about to give up in despair, when suddenly his hand struck an opening beyond.
“There is a passage!” he exclaimed. “Wait till I enlarge the opening.”
He worked away for fully quarter of an hour more. Then he squeezed his way through and helped the stout youth to do the same.
“This is better!” remarked Gus, when they found themselves in a much larger passage on the other side of the opening. “Now let us hurry; the stick shows signs of going out.”
There was no need of urging; Oliver was traveling at the height of his speed. Up and up they went, the passage growing wider as they advanced.
“Hold up,” cried Oliver, suddenly stopping short. Then he put the firebrand behind him and peered ahead. “Hurrah! I see the light of evening shining into the other end of this passage. We are out of it at last!”
And such proved to be a fact; for five minutes later they emerged, and found themselves at the very top of the mountain, at a spot where they could look down upon the mine buildings.
“Thank God we are out of that hole!” cried Oliver. “Oh, how good it seems to be in the open air once more!”