"We may as well give up trying to get in this way," he said.
"Not yet," was Harlan's reply as they stood in the dark. "Strike another match, and let's see what this looks like, anyway."
Vasco scratched another match, and the two boys hastily looked over the stout planking. Not a crack nor a loose joint was to be seen.
Just before the match went out, Harlan glanced backward and spied upon the ground a stick of timber eight or ten feet long.
"Light another match," he shouted, darting toward the stick.
Lifting one end of it, he directed Vasco to take up the other end. It was not very easy for Vasco to do this and keep his match burning at the same time, but he managed to do so, though the light went out just as they reached the archway again.
"Let's batter down these old planks," said Harlan.
Together the boys began to pound at the barricade. Though Vasco was a small lad, compared with Harlan, his well-trained muscles, hardened and toughened by out-door life, came well into play.
Under such hammering as the boys were able to give, the planks began to loosen, and soon they made a hole large enough to crawl through.