"Oh, I reckon it will hold," cried Bob, who was scraping away industriously with his shovel. "But we can't go much further, to my way of thinking. We have about reached bed rock."
"That is so. And I think—Oh! help!"
Mark got no further, for at that instant the sand began to crumble down on one side of the hole. He made a wild spring for the other side and caught hold of a rope which they had been using for hoisting sand that they wanted to wash. As he went up, the whole hole caved in, burying him up to his knees. Bob was completely covered and could do absolutely nothing to save himself.
Mark continued to call for aid, and soon Si and Maybe Dixon came running to the spot.
"Hullo, Mark is caught in the sand hole!" cried the former farm boy.
"Save me, and save Bob!" gasped Mark, who was trying his best to get away from the sand which held him.
"Where is Bob?"
"At the bottom of the hole."
"You don't say!" exclaimed Maybe Dixon. "Boys, we've got to dig him out an' do it quick, or maybe he'll be smothered!"
It was an easy task to drag Mark from the top of the opening, and this done they set to work to dig the sand from the hole. Mark and Maybe Dixon worked with their hands until Si brought up some shovels. In the meantime they called to two other miners who were not far away.