"No use working at that any more!"
Frank sat down on a rock, regarding the impassable heap.
"Buried alive," he remarked, at last.
"No one will ever find us here."
The boys realized the gravity of their plight. No one knew they were in the tunnel. No one had seen them enter. If they perished here, their bodies might never be recovered.
"Think we ought to start calling?" asked Joe hopefully.
"Looks as if we'll have to do something. Perhaps if we do call, the men won't hear us."
"How about going back along the tunnel? There was still a sort of opening, you remember."
"It's our only chance."
Frank had little hope that the tunnel had another outlet. However, he grabbed up the flashlight and the boys picked their way back along the rocky passage.