“They’ve been overcome by choke-damp.”
“Nonsense! that’s only in coal pits. Don’t let these two see what a fright we’re in.”
“Don’t see that you’re in any fright,” said Joe, bitterly. “You take it coolly enough.”
“Outside,” said Gwyn; “perhaps I feel as much as you do, only I don’t show it. Joe, I wouldn’t have my mother know about this for all the world—it would frighten her to death; and if we get talking about volunteers going down, someone is sure to go and tell her that we’re in trouble, and she’ll come on.”
“But we must do something; they may be dying for want of help.”
“Don’t,” whispered Gwyn, angrily; “you’re as bad as a girl; try and think about how they are situated. Perhaps there are miles of passages below there, and they would be hours wandering about. Of course they go slowly.”
“Couldn’t be miles of passages,” said Joe, piteously.
“Think the mine’s very big, Dinass?” said Gwyn, quietly.
“Oh, yes, sir, bigger than I thought for.”
“Some mines are very far to the end, aren’t they?”