“I don’t believe he is under this,” he said. “But he may be caught in some way on the other side.”
“How are we to get at him?” was the question from Pepper.
The torch was dying down and Jack had to work his way out of the cave and find a new pine bough for a light.
“Maybe we can get at him from the top,” suggested Jack. “There seemed to be quite a cave-in there.”
“I will look,” said the teacher.
All hurried outside and to the spot the young major had noticed. The ground was much sunken.
“He is literally buried alive!” cried George, Strong. “We must dig him out, and be quick about it!”
They went at the stones and dirt with vigor, yet taking care that no additional cave-in should result. All they had to work with was a trowel George Strong had brought along and their hands, but despite this drawback they made fair progress.
“I see a hole!” cried Jack, after five minutes of hard work.
“Be careful!” cautioned George Strong again. “Call down to Dale.”